STILL SHORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1915, Page 6

STILL SHORT.

ELEVENTH REINFORCEMENTS. DEFENCE DEPARTMENT WANTS 400 MEN NOW. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Dec. 27. Recruiting has been nearly at a standstill during the holidays, and the Eleventh Reinforcements are still some 400 men short. The shortage has been explained so far by references to the Christmas holidays, but the men who have been holding back for that reason should be able to get into camp now. Recruits are needed urgently at once, in order that the vacant places may be filled and the training of the Elevenths placed on a proper footing.

Within the next three weeks the Twelfth Reinforcements have to enter camp. The number of men required for that force is 2200, so that altogether the Defence Department requires some MOO recruits to come forward for training before the middle of January. The number of men waiting on the books is not sufficient to meet this demand, especially if a large allowance has to be made for "wastage," owing to the registered men neglecting to enter camp after they have "been called up. It is clear, therefore, that a special effort will have to lie made during the next fortnight to get the men that are required.

The Defence authorities ltope that the shortage in the Eleventh Reinforcements will be made good before the Twelfths are called up. That can be done if the men who waited to spend Christmas at home will come forward promptly now and go iuttfvcamp at once.