SHORT OF RECRUITS.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19900, 1 June 1936, Page 9

SHORT OF RECRUITS.

BRITAIN’S ARMY. SHORTAGE OF 6000 MEN. LONDON, May 5. The Army will be over 6000 men short when the present recruiting year ends on Sept. 30, unless the rate of recruiting is increased greatly in the next few months. To replace men who will pass into the Reserve during the year, the War Oflice require 30,000 recruits. Present weekly returns from all over the country indicate that the total will be less than 24,000. The best times for recruiting, just after Christmas and Easter are past. Last week there were 494 recruits. an increase of 65 over the same period last year, but unless this number is considerably increased there is no ghance of reaching the required numer. Every efl’ort is being made to attract young men to the Army. During the period «if their service they are taught trades and prepared for their return to civil life. ln the last four years. it is pointed out. over 100 soldiers from the ranks have obtained commissions London Defence Needs. Recruiting for the Territorial Army showed a inarlx‘t‘tl increase in numbers in Mun-h lillti April. but the form: is estimated to ho still many thousands iK‘IIHY strength. in the anti~nirrrnft units alone. between 2000 and Snot) t‘ot't'uits are urgently needed for the defence of London. Skilled mechanics for the mechanisecl unzts nf hath tht- Regular and lvrriti-rizil Ari-iivs .11‘t- i'l-vinircd. It. has been found that the largest. number of ri'cruits for the Regular Army has come from the industrial centres of thr North. wheru the trade revival has nlsu been the greatest. More than 75 pur cult of the rc~ cruizs were in work “hen they enlblk‘d.