§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any arrangement had been come to for providing a sufficiency of seasoned and experienced soldiers for India, and especially with reference to the statement of the Inspector General that he has ceased to recruit men for long service, whether Her Majesty's Government have been advised that they can rely on volunteering alone to supply such soldiers for Indian service?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY,in reply, said, that no actual agreement had been come to between the Indian Government and the War Office, but negotiations had been going on for some time. Proposals and counter-proposals had been made, and he had a Committee sitting at this moment to consider those proposals. The question of volunteering had not been raised; but he had no doubt that a conclusion would be arrived at which would enable them to supply India with a sufficient number of seasoned soldiers.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLgave Notice that, on going into Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates, he would call attention to the imprudence of ceasing to enlist for long service until the question was settled.
MR. GATHORNE HARDYsaid, that the hon. Member seemed to suppose that long service had been given up; but it was quite the reverse. Instead of taking them at the beginning as long-service recruits, the men would be enlisted for six years, and the best seasoned men would be taken on for long service. This arrangement, it was calculated, would secure for the Government 25 per cent more men best fitted for continued service.