§ COLONEL WYNDHAM MURRAY (Bath)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been dawn, to the fact, as shown in the Annual Report of Recruiting, that although the number of men under two years' service in the Army was less last year than in any of the previous four years, yet the number of men under that length of service who were discharged as invalids was greater than in any of those years; and whether he can explain the reason for this increase of invalid recruits; and, with reference to the same Report, whether he can state the reason why the numbers of Militiamen who joined the Regular forces have constantly diminished during the last five years; and whether the question of the reduction of the bounty given on completion of preliminary drill hag been considered in connection with this decrease?
§ * MR. BRODRICKThere is a small increase in the invaliding of men under two years' service. It is probably attributable to the increased attention paid to physical training, by which men who are unable to bear the strain are more rapidly and surely found out. The diminution in the numbers of Militiamen who have joined the Regular Forces may to some little extent be due to the reduction in the rate of bounty payable on 509 completing their drill on enlistment. If it should continue to increase, the question will be considered.