FOR THE FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1915, Page 4

FOR THE FRONT.

MEN; 'WATTING IN NEW PLYMOUTH, MORE WILL BE REQUIRED. Taranaki has played its patt well in providing men for the successive reinforcement drafts to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and the good average of recruits coming forward has been well maintained right up to the present, But the only interpretation to be placed on ,the statement by the Minister of Defence, which was published yesterday, ie a clear call for moro men, and the Defence authorities urge that every man who is fit should ccme forward at once and register his name. Volunteers may not be eajted up for some little time, but the Minister's statement shows bow necessary it is to have as many registrations as possible. The decision to send reinforcements every six weeks instead of cveiy three months simply means that Taranaki, in common with other parts of New Zealand, must send away more men than was previously anticipated. Hence the call for more men must reecho through the province.

The position in regard to recruiting at New Plymouth is interesting, in that while it shows that men have come forward in largo numbers and there are ma.ii/ wajtiijg to be called up, the number on the list will rapidly be absorbed when drifts are taken every six weeks. The men who register at New Plymouth belong to the town and the neighboring districts, and while the registrations for the whole of Taranaki arc not available here the position at New Plymouth provides a good example of what the province is doing. After the main force left drafts of varying strength were sent from New Plymouth with each body of reinforcements, the highest number reached being 70, which was the number who left New Plymouth to join the Eighth Reinforcements—the last lot.to go into camp. At present there are 178 names on the list at the .Defence Office, and notices are now being Sent out to the men who will be required to join the Ninth Reinforcements, who will leave New Plymouth in a. few weeks. How many men will be selected fflr tho Ninth Reinforcements it Is impossible to say, bur arguing that the number is the same as for the Eighth Reinforcements, that is 70, and taking 30 off the total as the number rejected as medically unfit, the strength of the list will be brought down to 78. This balance then will probably provide' enough men for the Tenth Reinforcements. It is plain, therefore, .that while a list of 178 men waiting may tend to lead the people to suppose that everything is all right here, the list quickly becomes dissolved when examined in the Jight of the statement that reinforcements will have to go forward every six weeks. It must further be remembered that the total of 178 comprise men registered for the mounted, infantry, artillery and other branches of the service, and the Minister has stated' that while registration is good it is "barely sufficient as far as infantry is concerned."

The appeal made for miners and'tunnellers for the special corps of engineers has resulted in two men registering at New Plymouth up to yesterday.