19TH REINFORCEMENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 26 July 1916, Page 5

19TH REINFORCEMENTS.

WELLINGTON, This Day. The registrations for the 19th Reinforcements which mobilises for train ing this week, show a Dominion excess of 98 over normal requirements. The official figures of the enlistment for the infantry and all other arms of the Service being full, as at date of Friday, the 21st inst., are as follows: Auckland Military District, an excess of 1; Wellington Military District, an excess of 75; Canterbury Military District, an excess of 32; Otago Military District, a shortage of 10; or a total Dominion excess of 98. At the same date 1158 infantry had registered for the- 20th reinforcements, which is due to mobolise for training at the end of August. As the j normal requirements for infantry for j each four weekly draft is 1916 men, j the present registrations for the 20tnj leave a shortage of 658 men to be j found in the coming month. The Anzac troops are now taking a glorious part in the stirring deeds of the present great Western offensive, j and it is not necessary for me to re- ! mind every fit and eligible man in the I Dominion of the urgent call that daily comes from his comrades, and fellow | citizens, in France, to step forward j and fill the gaps in the ranks. We read that the Germans are j wondering how great are the English reserves, because they know that the ; continuance of our offensive will de- I pend on our reserve strength. Let the military manhood of this Dominion, by j keeping up a steady flow of reinforce- j ments, demonstrate to the enemy that our reserve force is sufficient, to continue the defensive until a definite victory is achieved. It will be a truly glorious achiemement if we can maintain our flow of recruits by voluntary enlistment, but maintained they must be, whether they be on the voluntary principle or by bringing into force the compulsory powers contained in the \ Military Service Act. j Signed—iW. F. Massey, Chairman. | - ... ,::