§ COLONEL ALEXANDERasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he can state why it is not intended to demobilise the soldiers transferred to the First Class Army Reserve since June 30th 1881, although the emergency for which these men were recalled to Service with the Colours has now passed away?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, in reply to the hon. and gallant Member opposite (Colonel Alexander), I have to state that if he refers to the Queen's Proclamation calling out the Reserves, he will see that the emergency therein defined has by no means ceased. I am anxious, however, to discharge the Reservists from the Colours as soon as practicable; and I have already given orders for the discharge of all those who had joined the Reserve before July, 1881.