Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/256/1 - 1915 - 1936 - Part 2

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066692
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

A0ST E. 23, 1915. The Speney Horning Berald. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1915. TO ARMS! Probably the most significant speech made in Australia since the war began was delivered in the Melbourne Town Hall on Monday night by the Minister for Defence. Senator Pearce said to the people of Vic toria:—We are now informed by the British authorities that every man is wanted. We send that message to you, and through the press to Australians. Every man is wanted This earnest appeal had been prefaced, no doubt, by the reminder that the youngemen of the State were not volunteering as well as elsewhere; and with Melbourn- as a good sounding board, Victoria would not be able to plead that it had not heard the Minister's urgent call But Senator Pearce was careful to pitml ls voice so that the whole Commonwealth hould hear and attend; and never before member of the Federal Governmant found it necessary to speak so directy to he people here have been specches oy Mr. Fisher, we admit, and his premise that the last man and the last shilling would be forthcoming in this war if re- guied has come historic, Tetss a pro- mise it was so general in its terms, and so little su estive from the context of desperate urgency, that the public did not miss either sleep or sport to think about it. Here, however, comes such a real cry to the people o Australla to send forward the last man, that they must listen; and before they have done so they will probably miss a good deal of sleep and shut down on most of their sport until pence is proclaimed The Minister declared unequivocally that the position in Galicia, in France, in Ber- glum, and in the Dardanelles, was not satisfactory, and urged that more men and more munitions were waned, and wanted badly. I am afraid, he continued, thai the people of Australia have not yet realised the sertousness of the position. It may be true that over sixty thousand troops have left Australin, and that neary another twenty, thousand are ready to leave; but at least as many more will be required ultimately to replace the wastage of war; and five thousand must be de- spatched every month now without fall. We are fast approaching the time when the hundred thousand limit set by the Herald as the least the Commonwealth should send but Te Mrist Hen Atass- Fellenber, Cial our business is to continue to make good. Our force in the feld must be maintained at full strength. Until the war is over we must persist in our task; and surely it can be seen from what has happened that this burden of Imperial duty will not be effec- lively borne by us unless Australians anio as one man. There can be no party poll- ties in the face of such an issue. Now, what of the Minister for Defence himselff Senator Gardiner, a colleague. has just informed us that Senator Pearce is working eighteen hours a day! How long can that last? It is useless to tell as that the Government is thorought aware of the gravity of the situation, that Mr. Fisher and Mr. Hughes are the mouthpieces of the Defence Department 1 the House of Representatives, and that everything is being done that is possible to human strength and foresight. The facts are against Senator Gardiner in that the Minister most concerned is being sadi overworked, and will break down just when he is most wanted, unless his colleagues combine to give relief. At this most critical juncture we have a Federaf Par lament divided and distracted by the in troduction of referendum bills which will involve six months campaigning through out the Commonwealth, with a dissipation of valuable energy when concentration must be the Ministerial watchword. As if realising that the people are watching thi- move with undisguised disgust, Senator Gardiner informs us that the de- sired amendment to the Constitution will give the Government enlarged powers to deal with the enemy within our gates. Vet almost in the same breath he admits thar the States are cooperating with the Com- monwealth to provide the needed aid! This foolish party hunt for fresh powers is reacting upon Senator Pearce, upon Aus- tralls, and upon the Empire, since neither he nor we can do our best to meet tue new call to arms. The urgent thing to And at the present moment is a reinforcement from the spiritual side, as Mr. Asquith declared last March in the House of Com- mons. In a very notable speech the British Prime Minister had made exactly the ay peal to the nation now, voiced by on Minister for Defence in Melbourne. HI= demand was for men, for money, for the tallest equipment for the purposes of the War. This was a demand made on the material side, but it was not enough. On the other side, what I have called the spiritual side, said Mr. Asquith, the ap- peal is to those ancient inbred qualitles of eur race which have never falled us in times of stress—qualities of self mastery self sacrifice, patience, tenacity, willing- ness to bear one another's burdens, a unity which springs from the dominating sens: of a common duty, unfalling faith, intex- tble resolve? This unity can never come with such scenes as the one enacted in the Federal Parliament last week; and pr appeal by responsible Ministers will bear the fruit in Australia which has been al- ready borne in Great Britain unless the spiritual side of this warfare is recognised and realised. Mr. Fearce says that uni forms and equipment do not matter. We must send the men, and presumably the War Office will do the rest. But our men will not go as they should if they see their political lenlers O. 1ded and the head of the Defence le partment worked to death as a consequence. They must be lifted as well as led, and the lift will only come hen Mr. Fisher and his colleagues take) Asquith’s cue and by hearty, unselfish attly the call to spiritual service
Extract from Times’ dated 23rd June 1915. The Commonwealth Minister for Defence has received an appeal from the Imperial Authorities for as many men as possible. Efforts will be made to raise another contingent comprising three Infantry Brigades. Telegram from Sydney Correspondent of Times’.
He Pricin of 8Bde & of 50,000 datt doubley Promise of Extra Ede & 2fts) or 1 Diver was malle Early July - just as recruiting boom ws inerg. ps then in Austtn camps were standing at abt 20,000 but had been decreasing, reruiting being hardly safft to supply 2 Div &2t Hby reconiting effort follows, not especly conrected with the new offer - Both apparently sprang from auxiety concernin the posith + realisat to all possible effort must be put into the frosecs. of the war. Ove step was tbe the taking of a was Ausas. Irvive Esply active. A by receiting camn folld - Vict leading DSn satts of other states foll. Resunlt is nos in canp rise from 161424 in Jane to 73,963 in Octobers. Spli then at standstill, Germans took Warsaw, Pasher down thio Serbia; Sove people said Spli & faibure & Englo co do nothing on the Balkans. The Sept. offensivl after mesleading reports of success, was abowush a facture. for th Thengs looked pretty black. We goot at this juvetirs recd the War Ansus returns showing a large no of men stigible It was on this to the offer of $50,000 was based, to be suppoted by a fantier recrviting effort. This wd Hes los an attempt as scuentifice apanistty, by Hughes. brioy Austh ants up to Over 100,000 men) The no rec efortws not as succes as tefer
sto be w he news of the landeny: prack a casatly list - came tho on May S & resulted in an increase of receuting Bartlett's despatch, pubd May 8 Satz caused a forther increese. By There as at this tis no recracting camp go n had to come to the Capt to enlist & the Only encouragement wt I ew from 1 porit, wh, in aust was extraordinarily inaccurate- weld rnoars from Cais & Athens largely felling the gap. Even 1 often commanyues vere wislead by soauset. official 0 early in Jame the nambers were falling ofJu pabean & talk about shirkers began. At I same time press & public new both pointed out that there tos no active reruity organsti & it endecided to undertl a campaign in Victz whre extaiting w regeved from Butis foot Oh Jue or S Pearce In a reeligat Town Hall, on Jane 3 Pearce appeales for, l a me appealting for bttcsend. has more seen. Receueting had shown a marked fallin off latel be sd. The keight tweet was being lowered to 5.3 (lowered from 5. 4) (Chest 33, age 18-6.5) towards) ent of fie weetings were spasmodical organised in Syd & Elswhere. & On June 22 at a meeting in lowa hall Pearce disclosed 1 fact to be had recd a commn pore But sort Paying to "Every man was wanted (Even, Sd Disher, veen without armts shangs were not going well on any of the ponts- Have we dose all t we can do 3 he asked- in Vict. this resulted in a recruity compgn by State Partt Ae openc9 & also in N.SW., organesati of recriitin. county depots
creass Ovor 9100 Noor: offer 50,000 & 9600. 19 Decr. Tan. 13.001 9.408 Feb. 6.497 Mar. 776 APr 1.556 May & 9.100 &/65 31,23 Cort. 1916 - larger enlect. Dec. vilow. Feb. Mar. 1918 bevest If layger totel of 304 793 Meactly enter 1918. (bat raind in Cont. no ofecer at sut away, boe try the re plit ant. wif by next June to something like 300.000. Octty by 30 Ap. 181,964 a 31 Dec. 280,614 Not 300,000 till May 1917. Ty. 1n Aust. Uits toballen On Jan 11 1916. There wae 615343 abroad; Rts totally 69368; 52,027. 6he ps. dispatched Afto Dr- June incodbe ab 76,000. 50,000 al 1261.000 @9508 pat da te t peancte 18 only6000 more than vecy. est. $050 82335
1t Cas. list May 3. May4, News of Iles swcrd reciviting Sohn. Bartlelts dispatch. pubd Sat Iman coused furter rash 300 at 1Bin ove day. 250 May 12. wellkept up May 14 beg first aable May 15. Set Sune Mion, May 15 - 18 by days rect 350 May 17 bay 21 a fair webr - nearly 200 No accurate accts - need for them - will talk from Cawro & Abin] official news Extraord inaccarati. 6k Endeay29 - 1225 tho Vic Bars. Syd. 200 short of two preo whs. But this includes rejects Early Time. Nos falling off. Sor 18 time if begon to say to when we get tis depends on recruity. 152 fore 3 t Jue 4. Leader (to fa - indiv. Tnd be organised. fore men. Time 3. Pearce appeals for hove men. hears Has shown wrarked fallny off letily Ag1 B-45. Height 5.3 (1in less than before) the Chect 33. talk of Sheekers begus Jun 12. June 22. Spasmadic meetings in Syd 6 Encamag reerJ. Pearse in town Hall belt: fio Hewd be a foolish optrist abo sa I present positie tr seliefy. I peopledf aust has not get realised (seriousness O1 positi Voi Nor has Parlt? t be have sent 63,522. We have in cust 18,978 - 1 82,500. We are cmod t send Do0 Lvok Haele done all to be n do! ol must try to double or trible trose fyres? Recrged be v much better Cap. in the young nick not vols there as well asmtother staks. We are nowneformd by 1 But. acctces & Every man is waited? 8t speech (so directy by Fet goot. Pearce declared a 1 posite in pulicia Io Belgmon & to alles ws not setich? Every mane is wanted What is this Britisty appeal?
Hobman June 23. says in Nes.W. Partt to reciniting to be stimuteled Asw so fas reerg well. to be a recr campps Appeal from Ey reed abt June 22. Even for men without arms. as fisher reads it, Jos Kecrg in Coutrress to be sterbd. Itad to be towere. Recy Compge orge by vic. State Parth Clie - W Vic. Dist. Hers. Tepets also in Cout No0. 20 Hughes says Germ-held in W. Doattful if felt a Possia way oen to tale- begions rep to be witen few days warth. yery or Resolired of alles, overwhelin ta "we must org (our resources). This is wer. It is no use bavng overe behing numbers if thes are not marshalltd. It we had had more men, sple wd howours serng husbuorsd Gogro, & for at let 25orgscientficall. go it viter - abd acadi interest appeal to cconomise do widout luxuries. Proposes t ove induity. li peatdeys. Hhe woitesh race is being treed cn the furnace an Tors here in clast.this is our hour of trisk No +I wan liberty exc. they tigs Struck blow & oe can ever retain it saxe by readmess, if recy to die for it, a State har Councils it once engage in reciutin son OlIcome of strain caused by fyr success in Balkans) ellees adeneady for Thought sapace 2forti by abt June 1916 - Hughess gool. 161500 per a repried for 72. In progress rext Roubbs showed to 618,000 men betw 18060 were fit for service, (244,000 of these sugle &361000 wand. can it be done by voly culiss? asks South. If not must be done by conscrptu. Wan 24 Results in NSW satisfy So fave
Notes on Receuiting etc in Aust. July— Dec. 1915 teeth &height standend. Taly reduced. 2. Large nos of rejects cansing aneas mers Vic State recruety Cmpga. to begin Tuly c July 3. Iroil & care members ask goot tbe move Energitc. (Eyes t on whole post. Vict. Parlt, leads - Vic. ws falling be head bave State Recrsteu I Teackenmons Eppeal Frank Clarke J w Bellson ihe war is not going welyten to be need for panic, but there is ungut need for action. vo 21752. t day 813 age 18-45. 1280 97 572 height 71463 1131 33 chest. 3 962 4 Vic. wants 8a say. 5.1048 to be a2nd week. 6.1382 6222. Out of 7356. manily in Well. War Consus Bill intro Ir July 16. Tisher announced t on but a offered to double Oc. Sundiz 10526 in that of, 5, 263 Nor Rps, r send one B de. laving Noo 3 Bdes, trains & Iambs. & Di Sig Coy. leavig Noor or tlis Col. sect accepts 15I. t Kyarra. July19 bod return e sced. nill disc. WeCaupgn closed w 13, 80greeste in fortnight. " 1254 next My Sport being cortail or abowoy 21051 1915. Picture in Arges Juely 27 3702 calesties 8.7.52 July 22. Males betw. 18x45. 41476 50.6.60 5.442 to July 10 Vic. 9.92 SA. 9.56 Wa. 8.66 July 29.20,500 since July 1. Tas. 7.7 states to tngs lustens Prepare for i creast any 10.ex5 Sydney recrustion campgn-on: 650 in day. Ayd 160 Aug 20 Bathaps mote for conscra.
Ang 23. 718 for wk. 3yd. Vic 2028 forwt. Sinch July 5. 241093. Second Campshidyd.o 9d. Pastt to aYourn - 13t Camggn disappt. Good platform wh but not Suppter. (Sph Cupga hopelessly misanstood in Auct First war lan- $5000 000 eske mark over $1800 rcebsed £14932,410 Sept. 1 vic. 105 46 Syd 208. 86. 8 Peariesay N0s dectin aray at 18,000 a moath. Sept 16. Irvine for conscrptu- Sep 15. qu of Comp. sero. in Eught . Sept 18. Vc 598 for wk ended sep 20 860 in A. iser iret app to coepte (ausers deputh) Sep 125 By oct 3 nearly 150,000 abrawy sut vic. 56. SyC. 427 896 for wk. Octg. Honggoot asks for 9100 wosthly asted to wer 2ft to over 20 but reery Campga an NSW opins. nos fally in Vic. Ouly 6/6 in wh in S Oct 13. 95 75 sent away 891989 ts in And 165 964 Havilton Excabi h00S & Champpss pact Illes prepy for wenter Oct22. Fisher selected as H.C. Oct 23 Goerring of Serbea. Killer of Miss Covell. Ae Have we failed in the Dls. (discussed by Conan Dogl Odr8 (derby sentness. Hbast. Hhe ws popeful of voluntary system- but E absoly detd. & Serb. OAt 29. Parthett takes floomy view of Illes Canp Brossey says Abcottl impregactle betw 18760 NNo0 25 150000 by sant indep of 9500 per mouth 2 s 775.919 chifit 317,863 emyly 226,48I without depts dotion ws to next wintes & spoing wd be critical."If the evening io not more or less definitely broken well before this tie mx. year, 1s outlook for 1 allies will be a dreary oue indeed?
447 Ehybh Nov 26 a postal appeal to groups to be made usking if prepd to C) Enlist now, th later 13y not Wheynot. it ws was ceusis returns wh were origin of this offen. Wo asked in what form. hocal reat ctesform. at end of year recrty a little better in Syd & welk.

E  23, 1 915.
The Sydney Morning Herald.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1915.
TO ARMS!
Probably the most significant speech
made in Australia since the war began was
delivered in the Melbourne Town Hall on
Monday night by the Minister for Defence.
Senator Pearce said to the people of Victoria:-
"We are now informed by the
British authorities that every man is
wanted. We send that message to you,
and through the press to Australians.
Every man is wanted." This earnest
appeal had been prefaced, no doubt, by
the reminder that the young men of
the State were not volunteering as
well as elsewhere; and with Melbourne
as a good sounding board, Victoria
would not be able to plead that it
had not heard the Minister's urgent call.
But Senator Pearce was careful to pitch
his voice so that the whole Commonwealth
should hear and attend; and never before
has a member of the Federal Government
found it necessary to speak so directly to
the people. There have been speeches
by Mr. Fisher, we admit, and his promise
that the last man and the last shilling
would be forthcoming in this war if required
has become historic. Yet as a promise
it was so general in its terms, and
so little suggestive from the context of
desperate urgency, that the public did not
miss either sleep or sport to think about it.
Here, however, comes such a real cry to
the people of Australia to send forward the
last man, that they must listen; and before
they have done so they will probably miss
a good deal of sleep and shut down on most
of their sport until peace is proclaimed.
The Minister declared unequivocally that
the position in Galicia, in France, in Belgium,
and in the Dardanelles, was not
satisfactory, and urged that more men and
more munitions were wanted, and wanted
badly. "I am afraid," he continued, "that
the people of Australia have not yet
realised the seriousness of the position." It
may be true that over sixty thousand
troops have left Australia, and that nearly
another twenty thousand are ready to
leave; but at least as many more will be
required ultimately to replace the wastage
of war; and five thousand must be despatched
every month now without fail.
We are fast approaching the time when the
hundred thousand limit set by the "Herald"
as the least the Commonwealth should send
as its contribution will [[?]]
but we must then always remember that
our business is to continue to "make good."
Our force in the field must be maintained
at full strength. Until the war is over we
must persist in our task; and surely it can
be seen from what has happened that this
burden of Imperial duty will not be effectively
borne by us unless Australians unite
as one man. There can be no party politics
in the face of such an issue.
Now, what of the Minister for Defence
himself? Senator Gardiner, a colleague,
has just informed us that Senator Pearce
is working eighteen hours a day! How

long can that last? It is useless to tell 

us that the Government is thoroughly

aware of the gravity of the situation,

that Mr. Fisher and Mr. Hughes are the

mouthpieces of the Defence Department in

the House of Representatives, and that

everything is being done that is possible

to human strength and foresight. The facts

are against Senator Gardiner in that the

Minister most concerned is being sadly

overworked, and will break down just when

he is most wanted, unless his colleagues

combine to give relief. At this most

critical juncture we have a Federal Parliament

divided and distracted by the introduction

of referendum bills which will

involve six months' campaigning throughout

the Commonwealth, with a dissipation

of valuable energy when concentration

must be the Ministerial watchword. As if

realising that the people are watching this

false move with undisguised disgust,

Senator Gardiner informs us that the desired

amendment to the Constitution will

give the Governement enlarged powers to 

deal with the enemy within our gates. Yet

almost in the same breath he admits that

the States are co-operating with the Commonwealth

to provide the needed aid! This

foolish party hunt for fresh powers is

reacting upon Senator Pearce, upon Australia,

and upon the Empire, since neither

he nor we can do our best to meet the new 

call to arms. The urgent thing to find 

at the present moment is a reinforcement 

from the spiritual side, as Mr Asquith

declared last March in the House of Commons.

In a very notable speech the British

Prime Mininster had made exactly the appeal

to the nation now voiced by our

Minister for Defence in Melbourne. His

demand was "for men, for money, for the

fullest equipment for the purposes of the

war." This was a demand made on the 

material side, but it was not enough. "On

the other side, what I have called the

spiritual side," said Mr Asquith, "the appeal

is to those ancient inbred qualities

of our race which have never failed us in

times of stress - qualities of self mastery,

self sacrifice, patience, tenacity, willingness

to bear one another's burdens, a unity

which springs from the dominating sense

of a common duty, unfailing faith, inflexible

resolve." This unity can never come

with such scenes as the one enacted in the

Federal Parliament last week; and no

appeal by responsible Ministers will bear

the fruit in Australia which has been already

borne in Great Britain unless the

spiritual side of this warfare is recognised

and realised. Mr. Pearce says that uniforms

and equipment do not matter. We

must send the men, and presumably the

War Office will do the rest. But our men

will not go as they should if they see their

political leaders divided and the head of

the Defence Department worked to death

as a consequence. They must be lifted

as well as led, and the lift will only come

when Mr. Fisher and his colleagues take 

Asquith's cue and by hearty, unselfish

justify the call to spiritual service.

 

Extract from "Times" dated 23rd June 1915.

" The Commonwealth Minister for Defence has

" received an appeal from the Imperial Authorities

" for as many men as possible.

" Efforts will be made to raise another contingent

" comprising three Infantry Brigades."

Telegram from Sydney Correspondent of "Times".

 

Origin of 8 Bde & of 50,000 draft offer.

Promises of Extra Bde & double r/ts), or 1 Divn,

was made early July - just as recruiting boom ws incrg.

Tps then in Austln camps were standing at abt 20,000 but had

been decreasing, recruiting being hardly sufft to supply 2 Div & r/ts

A big recruiting effort follows, not especly connected

with the new offer - Both apparently sprang from

anxiety concerning the positn & realisatn tt

all possible effort must be put into the

prosecn. of the war.

One step was to be the taking of a war

census. Irvine esply active.

A big recruiting campgn folld - Vict leading,

N.S.W follo & other States follg. Result is nos in camp

rise from 16,424 in June to 73,963 in October.

Glpli then at standstill; Germans took

Warsaw, Pushed down thro Serbia; some

people said Gpli a failure & Engld cd do

nothing in the Balkans. The Sept. offensive,

after misleading reports of success, was obviously

a failure.

It ws for these Things looked pretty black.

The Govt at this juncture recd the War Census

returns showing a large no of men eligible.

It was on this tt the offer of 50,000 was based, to be

supported by a further recruiting effort.  (This wd

[*This is an attempt at scientific organisatn, by Hughes.*]

bring Austln units up to over 100,000 men).
The 2nd recg effort ws not as successf. as the first.

 

The news of the landing:  practly a casualty list- came

thro on May 3 & resulted in an increase of recruiting

Bartletts despatch, pubd May 8 Saty caused a further

increase - By There ws at this time no recruiting

campgn. Men had to come to the Caps. to enlist & the

only encouragement ws / news from / front, wh, in 

Aust was extraordinarily inaccurate - even the wild

rumours from Cairo & Athens largely filling the gap. Even /

official news was communiques were ^ often misleading.

Early in June the numbers were ^ somewhat falling off, on June

3 & the press & public men began & talk about "shirkers"

began. At / same time press & public men both

pointed out that there ws no active recruiting organistn

& it ws decided to undertake a campaign in Vict. where recruiting ws

sd to be worst. On June 2 or 3 Pearce received from / British Govt
In a meeting at / Town Hall ^ Melb on June 3 Pearce appealed for

wht a message appealling for all / men Aust cd send.

more men. "Recruiting had has shown a marked falling off

lately" he sd. The height limit was being lowered

to 5'.3 (lowered from 5.4) (Chest 33, age  18?-45) Towards /

end of June the sporadic meetings were sporadically

organised in Syd & elsewhere. & on June 22 at a meeting

in / Town hall Pearce disclosed / fact tt he had recd a

commn from / Brit Govt saying tt “Every man was wanted"

(Even, sd Fisher, men without arms).

Things were not going well on any of the fronts -  

"Have we done all tt we can do?" he asked.

This resulted in a recruiting campgn in Vict.

by State Parlty Ctee - & also in N.S.W., organisatn of recruiting, opening of

country depots.

 

Novr 25: offer 50,000 + 9000.

Excess over 9100

Decr.            19

Jan.       13,001

Feb.       9,408

Mar.       6,497

Apr.        9,776

May        1,556

31, 257 + 9,100 r/ts

{Sept

{Oct.  1916 - larger enlistt.

Dec.  v. low.

Feb. Mar. 1918 lowest

If larger total of r/ts

301,793 reached in June 1916 (but raised in Aust. —

not sent away). wd "will bring / total ^ no of men supplied by Aust.

by next June to something like 300,000."

Actly  by 30 Ap:   181,964

           "   31 Dec. 280,614

Not 300,000 till May 1917.

On Jan 11 1916. There were units totalling 61,343 abroad; R/ts totalling 69,968; Tg. in Aust. 52,027. 

Tps. ^ to be despatched

R/ts Dec-June active cd be abt 76,000.

3 Addl. Div etc.    50,000

@ 9508                126,000

 76,000

Tps actly despd. Dec to June inclve                              

82,035     i.e. only 6000 more than necy. r/ts.

 

May 4: news of Dlles ^ 1st Cas. list May 3 incrd recruiting

Ashm. Bartletts despatch. pubd Sat 8 May

caused further rush - 300 at V B in

one day.

250 May 12.

Well kept up May 14

My first cable May 15.

Sat Sun Mon. May 15 - 18 by day steady

350 May 17.

May 21 “a fair number”- nearly 200

[No accurate accts - need for them - will talk from

Cairo & Athens]

[Official news extraord. inaccurate.]

Wk. ended May 29 - 1225 thro Vic Barr. Syd.

200 short of two prev wks.

But this includes rejects.

Early June. Nos falling off.

For 1st time newspapers begin to say tt when we

get thro depends on recruiting. 152 June 3

June 4: Leader ^ Recruitg so far - indivl. Shd be organised.

"More men."

June 3: Pearce appeals for more men.

"Rectg Has shown a marked falling off lately."

Age 18-45. Height 5.3 ;(1 in less than before)

Chest 33.   Chest

Talk of shirkers begins June 12.
 June 22. Spasmodic meetings in Syd

to encourage recrg.

Pearce in Town Hall Melb: June 22.

"He wd be a foolish optimist who

sd tt / present position ws

satisfy."

/ people of Aust has not yet

realised / seriousness o / positn

Voice "Nor has Parlt."

P. We have sent 63,522. We 

have in Aust 18,978 – tot 82,500.

We are commitd to send 5000 a ev month

"Have we done all tt we can do?"

"We must try "to double or

treble those figures."

Recrg cd be v. much better esp. in Vic.

Young men not volg there as well

as in / other states.

"We are now informed by / Brit.

authies tt every man is wanted."

1st speech (so directly) by Fed Govt.

Pearce declared tt / positn in Galicia, Fr. &

Belgium & the Dlles ws not satisfy."

"Every man is wanted"

What is this British appeal?

 

Holman June 23. says in N.S.W.

Parlt tt recruiting to be stimulated

NSW so far recrg well.

To be a recrg campgn

Appeal from Eng read abt June 22.

Even for men without arms.

(as Fisher reads it)

June 29 Recrg in Countries to be started.

Standd to be lowered.

Recrg Campgn. orgd by Vic.

State Parlty Ctee - W Vic. Dist. Hqrs.

Depots also in country.

Nov. 3029 Hughes says Germs. held in W.

Doubtful if held in Russia -

way open to Cple - Legions repd

to be within few days march.

Germy orgd.

Resources of allies overwhelming.

"We must org. these. . . . . .(our resources)." This is

war."

It is no use having overwhelming

numbers if these are not marshalled.

If we had more men, Gpli wd

now ^ have bn ours"

Germy has bn orgd 40 yrs, & for at

least 25 orgd scientifically.

Orgn is vital – not of academic

interest -
Appeal to economise - do
without luxuries.
Proposed to org industry.
"We live in great days.
The British race is being tried
in the furnace, we for as here in
Austr . . . . this is our hour of trial."
No people ever won liberty exc. they themselves
struck / blow, & none can ever
retain it save by readiness, if
necy, to die for it."
State War Councils at once
engage in recruiting.
[[Scutt?]]
(Outcome of strain caused by Gy's
success in Balkans).
Thought ^ Allies wd be ready for supreme effort wd be in
by abt June 1916 beyond Hughes's goal.
16,500 per m. required for 7 m.
In progress rept Knibbs showed tt
618,000 men betw 18 & 60 were "fit"
for service. (244 000 of these single
& 361 000 marrd.)
Can it be done by voly enlist? asks
[[Scutt?]].  If not, must be done
by conscrptn.
(Jan 24 Results in NSW satisfy so far in

 

Notes on Recruiting etc in Aust.

[July-Dec. 1915

July 1 Teeth & height standard

reduced.
[*6*]

– 2. Large nos of rejects causing
uneasiness

Vic State recruitng campgn.

to begin July 5.

July 3. Irvine & Carr Labor members

ask Govt to be more

energetic.

(Eyes then on whole front.)

Vict. Parlt leads – Vic.

ws falling behind band

State Recrg Ctee

Appeal

"D Mackinnons  )

Frank Clarke     )

J W Billson        )

"The war is not going well; there

is no need for panic, but there

is urgent need for action." 

1st day  813

2            972

3           1131     

4           962.
age 18 - 45.
5ft2 height
33in chest.
record
[shorthand] 1752.
1280
?1463

Vic. wants 8 a day.

5.  1048    To be a 2nd week.

6.   1382

6222.  out of 7356 . mainly in Melb.

War Census Bill introd . July 15
 July 16. Fisher announced tt our

July 9 offered to double Oct [shorthand]
sending 10526 instead of Nov Rfts ^ 5,263 & send one Bde. leaving Novr

or 3 Bdes, trains & F ambs -

& 1 Div Sig Coy. leaving Novr or later.

Col. Secty accepts 1st.

July 19 wd return by Kyarra.

58 wd. mostly disc.

Vic Campgn closed w 13,809 recrts

in fortnight.
1.  1254 next day. Sport being curtailed

or abandoned.

2. 1051

3. 702

4/476
5. 442
Picture in Argus July 27. 1915.
July 27.  Males betw. 18 & 45.   [[calestimes?]]

To July 10       Q.  7.52 percent

NSW 6.60 percent
VIC.   9.92 percent
SA.  9.56 percent

WA.  8.66

Tas.  7.71

July 29. 20,500 since July 1.

Instrns to Camps. States 

"Prepare for increase"

Aug 10. 245. Sydney recruiting

campgn - on: 650 in day.

Aug 18  160

Aug 20 Bakhaps motn for conscrn.

 

Aug 23.  Vic. 718 for wk.  Syd.  2028 for wk.
Since July 5 . 24,093.
Second campgn in Syd. orgd.
Parlt to adjourn - 1st Campgn
disapptg.  Good platform wk but not
supptd.
(Gpli campgn hopelessly misunderstood
in Aust)
First war loan - £5 000 000 asked
nearly over £18 000 000 subscd.
£19 932,410.

Sept. 1 - Vic. 105
          2.  46.
          3.  86.  Syd 208.
              98.
Pearce says nos declining
Averaging at 16 000 a month.  Sept 10.
Irvine for conscriptn. Sep 15.
Qu of Comp. Sers. in Engld - Sept. 18.
Vic 598 for wk ended Sep 20
860 in Q.
Sep 1  25  Fisher irrevbly oppd to conscrptn
(answers deputn)

By Oct 8 nearly 150,000 already sent.
Vic. 56.  Syd. 427 896 for wk -
Oct 9. Home govt asks for 9 100 monthly.
(asked to incr r/ts to over 20!)
Oct 11 2nd recrg campgn in NSW opens.
Nos fallg in Vic.  Only 616 in wk in Syd.
Oct 13.  95, 975 sent away
              69, 989 tg in Aust.
             165, 964
Hamilton [[?]].
Loos & Champgne fail.
Oct 27.  Dlles prepg for winter
Fisher selected as H.C. Oct 23.
Overrunning of Serbia.
Killing of Miss Cavell.
Qu "Have we failed" in The Dlles.
(discussed by Conan Doyle.
Oct 28 Ld Denby sent across. to boast. tt he ws
hopeful of voluntary system - but
Evg absoltly defd.
Oct 29.  Bartlett takes gloomy view of Dlles ^& Serb. Camp.
Brassey says absoltly impregnable
Nov 25.  :  betw 18 & 60
50,000 by June indepl of 9 500 per month.
Big war
census
returns
Knibbs
775, 419 classed fit  317,868 single.
226,448 without depts
Notion ws tt next winter & spring wd be
critical:  "If the enemy is not more or less
definitely broken well before this time next
year, / outlook for / allies will be
a dreary one indeed."

 

Nov 26.  A postal appeal to groups ^ eligible (18 - 44) to

be made asking if prepd to

(1) enlist now, (2) or later, (3) if not

why not.

It ws War Census returns wh

were origin of this offer.

WO asked in what form?

Local recrtg ctees formd.

At end of year recrtg a little

better in Syd & Melb.

 

 

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