§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for War, What is the nominal establishment of the 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade, now on its way to Gibraltar; what is its effective strength; and how many of its rank and file have not yet been through a course of musketry?
§ MR. TOTTENHAMasked, Whether it was in consequence of the weak state of the Cavalry Regiments at home, that it was found impossible to send a complete Regiment of four squadrons of adequate strength with the Expedition to Egypt; and, if he will state the effective strength in men and horses of the remaining squadrons of the 5th Lancers and 20th Hussars which have been left behind, distinguishing band, staff, and dismounted men?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONWith reference to the Question of the noble Lord, and also to that which stands in the name of the hon. Member for Leitrim, I must adhere, in the public interest, to the rule I explained in my answer to the latter hon. Member on the 17th of March last year, and therefore must decline to enter into details of the constitution of particular regiments. In general terms I have no 1033 objection to say that the 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade embarked about 20 men short of the foreign establishment. I am not in possession of definite information as to the number who have completed the course of musketry. As regards the Cavalry, the establishment of horses is always much below that of men; and to meet a sudden demand it is more convenient to do as has been done in this case than to increase the number of horses by the transfer to the outgoing regiment of horses from another regiment, which is the usual course.
§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTONsaid, that he would, on Thursday next, ask whether it was not the fact that 254 men of the battalion in question had not been through a course of musketry; and he would ask the noble Marquess to specify how many men were above one year's service, and how many above two years'?
§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTasked what was meant by the regiment being 20 short of the complement for foreign service? Was it foreign service strength of 1,000, or Colonial service strength of 800?