§ SIR HENRY HAVELOCKasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it 1442 is the case that trained soldiers, in considerable numbers, are being taken from the Infantry and Cavalry for Transport and Hospital purposes, that is, to be instructed as drivers and sick-bearers; and, whether he will consider the advisability of directing the Committee of General Officers on Commissariat Organization, now sitting, to consider and report upon a normal establishment of transport and sick-carriage in proportion to the requirements and numbers of all arms; and on the best mode of expanding that nucleus on emergency by volunteering from the Militia, or other sources arranged beforehand, without diminishing the Line?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYA certain number of men of infantry battalions are being trained as drivers of regimental transport for their own regiments only, and not for hospital purposes. With regard to the second part of the Question, Committees have already reported upon a normal establishment of transport and sick-carriage and on the best mode of expanding that nucleus. I may add that certain Infantry battalions at Aldershot have been ordered to select men at the rate of two per company to be instructed as regimental stretcher-bearers in connection with the Army Hospital Corps.