SUPPLY OF MEN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1786, 7 February 1918, Page 3

SUPPLY OF MEN.

MARRIED MEN NOT WANTED TILL END OF MA'Y.' NEXT BALLOT FIXED FOR . JUNE. An important-statement regarding the calling up of Reservists for (he Reinforcement drafts and the date of holding the next ballot was made by the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) yesterday. RESULTS OF CT CAMP. The Minister stated that the sources of supply of recruits for Ihe Reinforcement di’afts concentrating during the next, few months were volunteers, balloted men, men coming within sections 34 and 35 of the Military Service Act, the production of fit men from the CT Camp, and the results of re-exami-nation of C2 men by the C2 Specie l Re-examination Board. Up .to sth January three drafts of CT men bad been sent to camp, and the third d ft on that date had been six weeks under training. On sth January the position in respect to Cl men was:—Total arrived in Cl Camp, 1,527. Of these, 583 being found medically unlit, bad been granted leave without pay, 407 lit men had been transferred to the Expeditionary Force camps, and 400 fit men wore ready to be transferred to the Expeditionary Force (-amps. This left a balance in camp on‘that date of 137, A fourth draft of 749 C'i men arrived in camp in January, bringing the total number of Cl men in training to 886. This number, plus the 400 ready to lie transferred to the Expeditionary Force camps, made a total at present in the Cl Camp of 1,286. The production of lit men in the Cl Camp was thus 52 per cent, of the total number arrived, or 58 per cent, of the total number sent out of camp or ready to send. MARRIED MEN POSTPONED TILL END OF MAY. “The position regarding future reinforcement drafts,” said the Minister, “is as follows: With respect to men now under orders, it has been decided to transfer married men (First Division men) to the 38th draft to concentrate in April. About 500 Second Division men arc* under orders to concentrate with the 38th draft (April). It is proposed to transfer these to the 40th draft, mobilising at the end of May. So far as can be seen at present, it appears that there will be sufficient men available to produce reinforcements up to and including the 39th (mobilising at the beginning of May) without calling upon the Second Division. CLASS B MEN MOBILISE IN OCTOBER. “The 40th draft will include the 500 Second Division men transferred ■ from the 38th draft. This draft will probably be ordoi’ed to concentrate at the end of May. “It is anticipated that the various sources of supply, including the A class of the Second Division, will provide sufficient for the 40th and 44th Reinforcements inclusive, that is going into camp up to September next. If this estimate be correct, then the first draft of B class of the Second Division will not bo required to concentrate till October. NEXT BALLOT IN JUNE. It has therefore been decided to hold the first ballot of Class B Reservists of the Second Division in June next. This will enable the Defence authorities to give each man the promised three months’ leave in which to arrange his affairs after bis medical examination before be has to parade for camp. If, how-’ ever, any Second Division Reservist of Class B desires longer leave Ilian this period of three months, he can voluntarily enlist forthwith, and if passed as fit for active service abroad he will he granted leave without pay until the date when the first balloted Reservists of Class B are being called into camp. Any Second Division Reservist of Class B, therefore, who desires this longer • time can, by enlistment forthwith, secure up to eight months’ leave after his medical examination.”