§ CAPTAIN NOLANasked the Secretary of State for War, If he can state how many applications for One Pound rewards for the apprehensions of men of the 88th Regiment have been made by the police stationed at Ballinasloe within the last three months; how many of these applications have been granted; and, in how many cases the commanding officer of the regiment in question considers that the soldiers apprehended intended to desert?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYThere have been 12 such applications on the recommendation of the magistrates, which have all been granted with the exception of one, in which, with the assent of the magistrates, the sum was reduced to 10s. No report has been made by the commanding officer as to his opinion about the intended desertion; but in 11 of these cases the individual soldiers themselves have said that they did intend to desert.