AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1915, Page 8

AUSTRALIA.

SLACKNESS IN RECRUITING. ABSTENTION FROM ALCOHOL. Sydney, Sept. 10. Recruiting in the city is slackening. The total for the current week is considerably below the recent averages, and the feeling in favor of national service is deepening. Branches of the Universal Service League are--, being formed in various Statsj. A letter has been sent by the promoters to prominent citizens asking them to join the movement, and setting out its objects, namely, advocating for the period of the war the principle of universal compulsory service at Home or abroad, on tho battlefield or elsewhere, and the securing of the passage of legislation to that end. It was pointed out that membership to the league does not involve the adoption of the principle of service abroad as a permanent part of the defence system; this principle is merely advocated as a necessary and equitable means of meeting the present grave national emergency. Heads of the Protestant churches have issued a combined appeal pressing seriously on the minds of those they could influence their duty in bearing a voluntary part in national sacrifice and' selfdiscipline by abstaining from alcoholic beverages during the war, and urging members of churches to call upon the Government to meet the necessity of the hour and pass effective measures to restrict the sale of drink , MENINGITIS. Melbourne, Sept. 11. There have been 119 cases of meningitis in the Victorian camps to dite and 44 deaths. ' "COLD FEET." Melbourne, Sept. 11. In the Senate a return has boon put on the table showing that there are 299 militia officers in paid positions in various States who have not offered their services at the front. NEW SOUTH WALES RECRUITS. Sydney, Sept. 11. It is stated that 18,000 men are at present training in New South Wales, covering the State's quota of recruits required to fill all the gaps to the end of December. KING ALBERT'S MESSAGE. London, Sept. 10. Sir George Reid has received a mes j sage from King Albert as follows:—"I am most anxious to express my profound gratitude to the people ami Government of the Commonwealth for their generosity, whereof they arc unceasingly giving emphatic proofs, tuvv«..vds my country." StRIOUS DESERTIONS. Sydney, Seyt. 10. It is stated that the matter of desertions is becoming serious. In the last batch of three hundred reinforcements who returned from final leave there were 90 short, and a further thirty deserted before embarkation.