HC Deb 06 July 1882 vol 271 cc1608-10
GENERAL FEILDEN

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether there is any truth in a statement in the "Times" of the 4th inst. to the effect that there was reason to believe— That eight of the sixteen regiments first for foreign service contained from a fourth to a half of untrained recruits?

SIR ROBERT LOYD-LINDSAY

said, he would suggest, with great respect, that the right hon. Gentleman would not answer the Question.

MR. CHILDERS

I am very much obliged to the hon. and gallant Gentleman for interposing on this Question. I doubt, Sir, whether it is for the good of the Public Service that Questions based on newspaper reports as to the composition of particular battalions should be asked in Parliament, and I am sure that such Questions can do no good at the present time. But on this question I have really nothing to add to the very full statement I made on the 13th of March, nearly four months ago. I then explained, without reserve—and what I said is fully reported in Hansard—how we had made up to their full strength the battalions in the First Army Corps at home and in the Mediterranean, and they have been steadily hardening since that time, and the proportion of recruits diminishing. Of course, there has not yet been time for the arrangements adopted last year to become fully matured; but the progress has been quite satisfactory and up to my expectations. Should any of the regiments be required for active service before they are thoroughly hardened, all the necessary measures have been prepared to complete them with seasoned men.

GENERAL FEILDEN

said, that in consequence of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, he begged to give Notice that he would next week ask the right hon. Gentleman a Question which he felt it his duty both to the Army and to his constituents to ask. He hoped the right hon. Gentleman would be able to reply; but if it were not to the interest of the Public Service to do so, perhaps he would so inform him. It was—How many men there were in the First Army Corps under three years' service, and how many had not completed their first annual course of musketry instruction?

MR. CHILDERS

Sir, my duty is not to the constituents in Lancashire of the hon. and gallant Gentleman, but to the country generally. I must distinctly say that I cannot, with due regard to the interest of the Public Service, give detailed information of this kind. In moving the Estimates I stated very plainly that what we were doing was strengthening the First Army Corps, and I do not conceive it my duty to make any further statement.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman did not think it desirable to contradict the anonymous and serious statements that had been made on that question?

MR. CHILDERS

I shall certainly do no more than I have done. I have referred the hon. and gallant Gentleman and the House generally, in the most respectful manner, to the full statement I made, I believe, on the 12th March last. Having regard to the interests of the Public Service, I do not think it desirable that I should give any more detailed information than I gave then.