New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 5, 8 April 1916, Page 2

New Zealand

HOSPITAL PROGRESS REPORT. Admitted to Hospital.™ Gunner Giles, Private 0. E. Morrow, Driver F. L. Smith. Private R. E. Wilkinson, Trooper A. H. Glass, Sapper H. 0Meinanawuy. Out of Danger.—Private S. C. P. Smith. Removed from seriously ill list. — Trooper H. Jones. Admitted to Hospital— Private E. R. Dairy Hamilton, Private B. Grace, Memo A lost hlack cattle dog is advertised for. Reward to finder. THE 15th REINFORCEMENTS. SERIOUS SHORTACE OF INFANTRY. Per Press Association, Wellington, April 7. The shortage in the loth Reinforcements which have been mobilised this week has been increased by the arrival of Southern drafts below their proper strength. Canterbury and Otago, like Auckland and Wellington, have failed to find their full quotas, and the net shortage appears likely to reach a total of nearly 500 men. The present shortages in infantry are approximately, as follows: Auckland 71, Wellington ,255, Canterbury 81. Otago 58 I —total 471. This .total is expected ' to her increased by about 16 when the West Coast section of the Canterbury | draft arrives to-morrow. | The chief factor in producing the Canterbury shortage was the failure of one group (Christchureh City and I Suburbs) to provide its quota. Christ--1 church 'sent in its infantry 65 men I short. The; Otago draft went into 'camp to-day, and was found to lack 58 men in the infantry section. All other branches were full. In the case of both Canterbury and Otago, the Defence headquarters has asked the military districts to make up their shortages by Friday next.

THE RECRUITING SCHEME. Colonel R. W. Tate, Commander of the Wellington military district, was in New Plymouth yesterday, and in conversation with a press representative, he referred to the shortage in the Fifteenth Reinforcements, which is the most serious New Zealand has yet heen confronted with. Tt was inevitable that there would he shortage of men in the Dominion sooner or later, and now it had to he faced. All the groups in the Wellington military district have failed to supply their quotas this month, the .position a few days ; ago heing as follows: — Group. Shortage. No. 5 (Wellington) .107 , No. 6 (Manawatu) '53 No. 7- (Hawke's Bay) ...... 38 No. 7a (Wairarapa) '.. 24 No. 8 (Taranaki) \... 46 Total shortage 268