CALL FOR RECRUITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1939, Page 6

CALL FOR RECRUITS

MEN WANTED TO COMPLETE SECOND ECHELON AND TO PROVIDE NUCLEUS FOR THIRD. DEFENCE MINISTER’S APPEAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON .This Day. An appeal for recruits to bring the second echelon of the Special .Military Force up to full strength and to provide a nucleus for Hie third echelon was made by the Minister id' Defence/ .Mr •Jones, in a statement last night. Enlistments will be ou the same conditions as those for the first echelon. “The first echelon of the special force has completed its preliminarytraining,” said Mr Jones. "and will shortly leave for advanced training overseas. The mobilisation camps will then be available for the training of the second echelon. Numbers of men who have already enlisted and been passed medically fit are waiting to enter camp with the second echelon, but more are required to make up the full strength and to provide a nucleus for the third echelon. Those prepared to offer their services should do so as soon as possible. "Officers for- the second . echelon have been training since November 8. Non-commissioned officers are also in training, and their number will be supplemented from later enlistments. Enlistments will be accepted on the same terms as for the first echelon and preference will continue to be given to single men. Some who volunteered for the first echelon were rejected on account of minor dental defects. There will be no further rejections on this ground, as all such troubles will be rectified by army dental officers in camp. "On the day recruiting opened for the first echelon volunteers exceeded the total number required. Volunteers for the second echelon may have difficulty- in beating this record of ths first's, but they can equal it. Service with the forces involves sacrifice, but the Government has always believed that the necessary sacrifice would be made when the need was known. The men on final leave have obeyed the call of duty and the country honours them. I am confident their fellow men will not falter now in the national effort to maintain and guarantee the safety- of New Zealand and the British Commonwealth. “I have arranged for the continuation of the Central Recruiting Committee, and the following officers will carry out the campaign with myself as chairman: Colonel O. H. Mead. D. 5.0.. Adjutant-General; Mr F. B. Dwyer, of Army Headquarters; Major R. E. Murray. Army Publicity Officer; Major,E. H. Whiting, of the Central MilitaryDistrict; Mr J. T. Paul. Director of Publicity. "I cordially- welcome the assistance of territorial associations, local bodies, representatives of other organisations and citizens generally to ensure the success of this appeal. "Forms of enlistment may be obtained in any post office or any- of the undermentioned defence offices: Auckland, Hamilton. Paeroa. Whangarei. Dargaville, Morrinsville. Rotorua. Tauranga. Te Kuiti, Wellington. Hawera. Napier. Wanganui. Dannevirke. Gisborne. Hastings. Masterton. New Plymouth, Palmerston North. Petono. Stratford, Christchurch, Dunedin. Invercargill, Nelson. Ashburton. Blenheim. Greymouth, Oamaru. Timaru, West port. ”