FOR THE FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1915, Page 4

FOR THE FRONT.

MEN FROM TARAXAKI. TWENTY-TWO LEFT YESTERDAY. The following Taranaki men left for Trentham by the mail train yesterday morning to make up shortages in the Taranaki quotas in camp:— G. M. Marr, Xgaere. E. Mann, Rangataua. A. Taylor, New 'Plymouth. B. S. Tancred, New Plymouth. W. H. Chong, New Plymouth. E. Shirley, Omata. W. Jones, Raurimu. T. J. Taylor, Matiere. ' .T. Ryan, Manunui. H. Kelsen, Normanby. P. Saunderson, Awatuna. D. Print, Ohura. A. Print, Ohura. W. Print, Ohura. F. G. Henderson, Manunui. J. Chadwick, New Plymouth. J. Spence, Xew Plymouth. S. H. Fish, Stratford. L. 0. McGregor, New Plymouth. J. W. Benefield, New Plymouth. J. Trevers, New Plymouth. W. G. Adams, Alton. The dearth of men for the infantry arm of the 11th Reinforcements continues (says yesterday's Dominion). Reports from all quarters indicate that recruiting is at the lowest point it has readied since the beginning of the war. The men required to fill the gaps in the draft are to go into camp not later than to-morrow, and it is a certainty that when the toll is taken the 11th will still be several hundred men short. The Defence Minister said that the shortage was then 460 infantry, and he detailed the shortages as follows: Auckland Military District 150 Wellington Military District 174 Canterbury Military District ...... 121 Otago Military District ...... .v.. 15 Dominion total .7-.-. ... 460 The Minister's figures show Wellington and Auckland in much worse light than the two South Island districts, and credit Otago with falling much less short of its quota than any other district. His figures, are arrived at, presumably, by adding to the Wellington and Auckland shortages the portions of the southern shortages which the southern districts were asked to make good. For instance, Otago's actual shortage for the 11th draft, far from being 15, was nearly 200. As nearly as can be ascertained the district shortages on the day the quotas left for Trentham were:— Auckland Military District ...... 90 Wellington 'Military District . 157 Canterbury Military District ...... 170 Otago Military District 196 019 After failing to the extent of 196, Otago (it is reported) is to be called on to contribute only 44 towards her own shortages—B mounted, 2 artillery, and 34 infantry.