§ MR. H. SAMUELSONasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true, as reported, that certain commanding officers of Militia have, with or without the concurrence of their officers and men, offered, in case of war, to place the services of their regiments at Her Majesty's disposal for garrison duty abroad in the event of the despatch from this Country of an expeditionary force, and of the consequent embodiment of the whole or a portion of the Militia; whether, in that event, such regiments would be employed in preference to others, or whether the privilege would be accorded to those Militia battalions whose linked line battalions had gone to the front of replacing those line battalions in garrison; and, whether it is competent to a commanding officer of Militia to offer to place the services of his regiment at the disposal of Her Majesty for foreign service when that regiment has not been assembled?
COLONEL LOYD LINDSAYSir, in answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, I have to state that certain officers have so offered, and have requested that their regiments might be noted for embodiment and for service abroad in the event of embodiment being determined upon and of their services being required. With respect to the second part of the Question, in the event of the two Line regiments being sent abroad, the Militia regiment which forms part of the brigade which is attached to those regiments would necessarily remain at home 414 as a feeder to those two battalions. I can only say that, of course, the commanding officer speaks for himself, and, as the hon. Member observes, if the regiment is not embodied, he cannot have consulted his men, and he can only give what he believes to be the real feeling of his regiment; but, of course, he cannot bind them.
§ MR. H. SAMUELSONSir, may I put a further Question to the hon. and gallant Gentleman—Whether, in case of the linked battalion being abroad, and it being decided to send any Militia regiments out of the country, preference would be given to those whose commanding officers offer to be so sent?
COLONEL LOYD LINDSAYSir, I cannot undertake to give a complete answer without consultation; but, of course, the selection of Militia regiments would be made in a way that would be most advantageous to the Service, and not merely because the commanding officers had offered to go abroad.
§ MR. PARNELLSir, with reference to the question of the sending of Militia regiments on foreign service, may I ask—Whether there is any special method provided in the Act for the purpose of enabling the commanding officer to ascertain the wish of the regiment as to its being sent abroad; and, if not, whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman will consider the desirability of introducing an amending Act providing some special method?
COLONEL LOYD LINDSAYSir, I may point out that the Militia regulations require that before any Militiamen are ordered abroad they themselves should be called upon to say whether they are willing to serve.