Untitled

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1915, Page 4

A SPECIAL APPEAL FOR MEN, In another part of this issue appears a specially urgent appeal for men to make up Taranaki's required quota for the Eleventh Reinforcements. Major McNaught (Commander of the Taranaki group), places the position of affairs in a perfectly plain light, and there is but one course to take, namely, to support to the uttermost the appeal made by him on behalf of the Defence authorities. The immediate shortage for the whole of the Wellington District is 300 infantrymen, Taranaki's quota of that number being thirty. It is particularly stated that the required number should be forthcoming by this day week— Thursday, December 23. There must bo hundreds of eligible young men in Taranaki who, for the honor of the cause, for the duty they owe to themselves and to their country, could' at once come forward to fill the gaps. We urge them to do so at once, without any thougHt of such a small matter as Christmas holidays. The greater the sacrifice made, the greater the honor in answering the call. It goes greatly against the grain to resort to persuasion where duty so manifestly should suffice, but the urgency of filling up the reinforcements justifies the putting forth of the most powerful pleading that is possible. The crucial point of the war is at hand, and those who enlist and undergo the necessary training now will never regret the sacrifices made, but will, we hope, be able in the future to lay a just claim to a full share in the victory that is to bring about a permanent peace and secure the safety of the Empire and the Dominions. Those who hold back now will have good cause to regret all their lives that at the most critical stage of the struggle they left their kindred and fellow-citizens to their fate at the risk of the enemy triumphing. It is the units that make whole armies, so that every young man should legard the forces of the Allies as incomplete without his presence and assistance. It matters not that we are confident of victory. What really is of vital importance ie that everyone whf. can should help and thus justify the confidence in the issue. To evry eligible young man of the district we commend the appeal of the Defence authorities, trusting that they will respond promptly and cheerfully. Only th ; rty men are wanted. Surely that number and many more -will come forward to prove that the manhood of Taranaki can, and will, mantain the high standard of duly so nobly set by I our pioneer settlers. Twenty-four houra should not be allowed to elapse without the required number being made up, and we trust that this will be the case,