CAPTAIN AYLMERasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the English troops in India are below the established number; and, if so, by what number of men in each branch of the Service, and also by what number they fell short of the establishment on the 31st December 1883?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONIt is very difficult during the trooping season, when detachments of men are on their way to and from India, to state the exact strength of a given arm in that country; but if the hon. and gallant Member will be content with the Returns for the 1st of September in the present and the past years, which may be taken as dates immediately preceding the trooping season, it will be seen that in the present season the Cavalry was 141; the Artillery 67; and the Infantry 4,224 below their establishment. It should be observed that a deficiency of from 800 to 900 was to be expected as arising from casualties since the close of the previous trooping season; and there is a further reason for deficiency in that two battalions from the Indian Establishment have been lent for service in Egypt. The corresponding figures for the 1st of September, 1883, showed the Cavalry as 419; the Artillery as 88; and the Infantry as 5,123 below establishment. I may add that the Authorities in India anticipate that by the close of the present trooping season their deficiency will be reduced to 650 men.