19th. REINFORCEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1916, Page 9

19th. REINFORCEMENTS.

THE URGENT CALL, ' FOR EVERY MAN. \ TO SUSTAIN THE EMPIRE. By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. The registrations for the Iflth reinforcements, which mobilise for training this week, show a Dominion excess of ' OS over normal requirements. The official figures of the.'enlistments for the infantry and all other arms of the service being full as at date of Friday, the 21st inst!, are as follows: Auckland military district, an excess of- oiie. ■• Wellington military district, an excess of 75. Canterbury military district, an excess of 32. Otago military district, a shortage of 10. A total Dominion excess of OS. At the same date 1158 infantry had registered for the 20th Reinforcements, which is due to mobilise for training at the end of August. As the normal requirement for infantry for each four weekly draft is 1810 'men the present registrations for the 20th leave a shortage of 058 men to be found in the coming month. The Anzac troops are now taking a glorious part in the stirring deeds of the present great western offensive, and it is not necessary for me to remind every fit and eligible man in the Dominion of the urgent call that daily comes from his comrades and fellow citizens in France to step forward and fill the gaps in the ranks. We read that the Germans are wondering hew great are the English reserves, because they know that the continuance of our offensive will depend on our reserve strength. Let the military manhood of this Dominion, by keeping up a steady flow of reinforcements, demonstrate to the enemy that our reserve force is sufficient to continue the offensive until a definite victory is achieved. It will be a truly glorious achievement if we can maintain our flow of recruits by voluntary enlistment, but maintained they must be, whether they be by the voluntary principle or by bringing into force the compulsory powers contained in the Military Service Act. W. F. MASSEY, Chairman. ============