§ SIR HENRY HAVELOCKasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is a fact that, a few months ago, while the 88th Regiment was virtually on active service, volunteers were actually called for and given from the depot of that regiment to other regiments in South Africa; whether, when more reinforcements were subsequently required, volunteers from other regiments at home had not to be again called for to fill the deficiencies thus wholly unnecessarily caused in the strength of the 88th Regiment; whether this departure from the principle of the supply of a regiment with men from its own depôt was simply a blunder, or was intended as a new method of developing the brigade-depôt system; and, whether it was done with the knowledge and approval of the Commander-in-Chief?
§ COLONEL STANLEYI am informed that no volunteers have been called for or taken from the depôt of the 88th Regiment since the outbreak of hostilities. No volunteers have been called for or required by the 88th, which are still in excess of the establishment.
§ SIR HENRY HAVELOCKasked whether volunteers were not called for between the cessation of hostilities with the Galekas and the breaking out of the Zulu War?
§ COLONEL STANLEYIt is very possible that that may have been so; but the point of the Question is answered by the fact that the 88th is in excess of the establishment.