MORE MEN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 319, 16 October 1915, Page 4

MORE MEN.

Circumstances have made it necessary that New Zealand should call up men for montlhly reinforcements instead of every second month, and the urgency for so doing is so pressing that these new arrangements 'had to be brought into operation, at once. There is a shortage of men i'or infantry regiments; for engineers, ambulance, artillery and such like there is a surplusage. It is not at all infrequent the cry is heard about men having enrolled their names months ago. and complaints are rife about not being called up, but it will be' found that the majority of such enrolments are i'or sections of the service that were already more than full, and out of all proportion to infantry enlistments. If such men would signify their willingness to transfer to infantry regiments it would very much relieve recruiting work, and they could go into camp without any delay. Three thousand men are wanted for November, and two thousand five hundred are required for each month thereafter; it seems evident that very special efforts will.ha-e to »bc made to secure these numbers, and the Defence Authorities have made an urgent appeal to unmarried men of military age to enrol and to wait the call that every young man shoull be proud to respond to. • Tine eligible age is now from twenty to forty-five years, and the minimum height is five feet two inches, so that provided a man is of good health there is little to prevent his ocuntry accepting his services. It has been pointed out that should tine end of the war come in a year from now, recruiting in New Zealand would not be necessary for more than another five or six months. Our enlistments are about that period„ ahead of requirements; in fact, from the time of enrolment it takes quite five momli-; to reach the firing line. As soon 2S the end is in sight no more men will be wanted from this distant part of the Empire, but in the meantime, more men are wanted, and wanted urgently, but it is only irritating to the Authorities for recruits to insist upon enroling for a branch, of the service that is now overcrowded. Infantry are wanted, and every young man desirous of getting away should enrol as an infantryman, and those who have given "in their names for other branches of the. service should at once apply for a transfer, if they do not wish their names to appear on the list of uncalled recruits till all necessity for fighting ha s gone by.