RECRUITING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 120, 7 February 1918, Page 6

RECRUITING

DOMINION'S STRONG POSITION ! FURTHER POSTPONEMENT FOR CLASS A CLASS B MEN NOT WANTED UNTIL OCTOBER An official statement concerning the recruiting arrangements for the current year was issued yesterday. The most important facts disclosed are that the recruits at present in hand and in sight will suffice.for the next eight reinforcements, that the first batch of Class A men will not be required to enter camp until the end of May, and that the mobilisation of Class 6 men will not begin before October. The supply of recruits for the reinforcement drafts mobilising during the next few months will be drawn from balloted men, and reservists coming within Sections 34 and 35 ol the Military Service Act. The accretions to the First Division, owing to youths reaching military age, provide a certain number of recruits month by month, and another important factor is the transfer of men from the CI Camp, where First Division reservists formerly classed unfit are being made fit for active service.

Four drafts, of men have been taken into the CI Camp,. the total number being 2276. Of this number 583 have been found medically unfit and given leave without pay'; 407 have been transferred to the reinforcement camps, and 400 are ready to be transferred when they are needed. The number of men at present in the camp, including the 400 awaiting transfer, is 1286. The figures indicate that the production of fit men at the CI Camp is goins to bo between 50 and 60 per tent, of the recruits received for preparatory training.

"The position regarding future reinforcement, drafts," said the Minister of Defence in issuing tlie statement, ''is lis follows: With respect to men now tinder orders to proceed to camp it has been decided to transfer married men of the First Division to the draft that will concentrate early in April. This has been announced already. About 500 Second Division men (Class A) are under orders to concentrate with the 38th draft at the beginning of April. It is proposed now to transfer these men to the Fortieth Reinforcement, mobilising at the end of May. So far as can he seen at present there will he sufficient men available to produce reinforcements up to and including the 39th draft, mobilising at the beginning of May, without calling upon the Serond Division.

"It is anticipated that the various eources of supply, including Class A of the Second" Division, will provide recruits for the dvafts up to and including the Forty-fourth Reinforcement, -which is due to enter camp in September next. If this estimate 'is correct, then the first draft of recruits From Class B of the Second Division will not be required to concentrate until October next. "It has therefore been decided to hold the first ballot of Class B reservists of the Second Division in June next. This arrangement will enable the Defence authorities to give each man the promised three months' leave in which to arrange his private affairs after medical examination and before he is required to go into camp. If any Class B reservist desires leave than this three months, i:e can voluntarily enlist forthwith, and if passed as fit for active service abroad he will be granted leave without pay until the date when tlie first balloted reservists of Class B are being taken into camp- Any Second Division reservist of Class- B can secure, hy enlistment forthwith, UP to eight months leave after his medical examination.' The dates for the mobilisation of reinforcement drafts during 1918 have been fixed as follow: March 4 to 9, April 2 to C, April 30 to May 4, Mav 28 to June 1, June 25 to 29, July 23 to 27, August 20 to 24. September ]Y to 21, October 15 to 19.' November ,12 to 16, December 10 to 14. ENROLMENT 0F _ HAOBIS DIRECTED The Governor-General has directed the enrolment of the First Division of the Native Expeditionary Force Reserve as constituted by the proclamation of June 26, 1917.