§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the statement is correct that, within the last few weeks, in one regiment alone at Cairo, twenty men had been allowed to purchase their discharges, and twenty-eight time expired men had refused to renew their service; and, whether this has also occurred in other regiments serving in Egypt; and, if so, is there any reason that has occasioned this state of things?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, that the Return for April had not yet been received with regard to the 3rd Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles, stationed at Suakin, to which, he presumed, the hon. and gallant Gentleman had referred; but with regard to the eight other battalions stationed in Egypt during the month of April there 544 had been one discharge by purchase, one man extended his service, two men reengaged, 11 men were sent home discharged, of whom two were invalids, and seven had entered the Reserve. There was no Return showing how many men were awaiting their passage home on the expiration of their service, and he had telegraphed an inquiry on the point. He would remark that, except in the Indian Service, where a considerable bounty was given, comparatively few men either extended their service or re-engaged. He thought it probable, therefore, that in Egypt the great majority of men would take their I discharge, and return home "when they were entitled to do so.
§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTHas the noble Marquess taken any steps to prevent the men from purchasing their discharge?