§ LORD EUSTACE CECILsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether he is aware that on Monday the 12th instant the troops at Aldershot remained under arms from ten o'clock till between two and three p.m., and that in consequence of the extreme heat of the weather and 455 the tightness of their clothing, the plain was literally strewn with men who had fallen out of the ranks in a fainting condition; whether he has any objection to state the number of men in each regiment who fell out upon that occasion; whether any, and if any, what directions have been given to the General Commanding at Aldershot as to the manifest expediency of ordering that field exercise of every description should take place early in the morning during hot weather, and whether it is not the fact that Regimental Medical Officers of the Army have reported that the health and comfort of the soldier would be greatly increased if the wearing of stocks were altogether discontinued?
§ MR. CARDWELLIn consequence, Sir, of the Question put to me by my noble Friend I have made inquiries, and have received a Report from Aldershot, from which I find that there was a field day on Monday, the 12th, and the troops remained under arms from ten till two, and a portion of them till half-past two. From the heat of the weather many men —that is 125 out of 8,125—fell out—the greater part of them to obtain water from the water carts that were in attendance. That, however, was not to be attributed to the tightness of the clothing. It is not the case that the plain was literally strewn with men who had fallen out; but it is true that five men were sent to hospital. In no one of the cases have serious consequences followed, and all the men have since returned to their duties. No directions have been given by the Horse Guards to the Lieutenant General commanding at Aldershot, in whose discretion, assisted by the medical officers, the utmost confidence may be placed. Perhaps I may be permitted to say that there is no officer in whom greater confidence may be placed than in Lieutenant General Sir James Scarlett. As to the wearing of the stock, permission has been given to discontinue the wearing of the old one. The new tunic is in course of issue.
§ LORD EUSTACE CECILWill the right hon. Gentleman state the number of men sent into hospital between the 6th and 16th of July in consequence of the great heat on field days?
§ MR. CARDWELLI shall be happy to give the noble Lord that information if he wishes for it.