§ MR. TOTTENHAM (Winchester)asked the Secretary of State for War, Why the establishment of Officers laid down for the Depôt of the Rifle Brigade in Special Army Circular, dated 10th November 1885, has not been made up to its proper strength, viz. three Majors, three Captains, and ten Lieutenants; whether the actual strength of the Depôt is correctly shown in the monthly official Army List for March as being two Majors, two Captains, and three Lieutenants; and, when it is proposed to fill up these vancancies for nine Officers?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN)&c.) (Stirling,Three out of the four battalions which compose the Rifle Brigade being abroad, it was necessary to provide for an unusually large depôt. An establishment of officers was accordingly fixed as a maximum to be employed whenever the number of recruits might render the services of so many officers requisite. It was not, however, contemplated to add officers to the Army for the purpose, but to make up any deficiency by employing officers of Militia. There are now two Majors, three Captains, and four Subalterns at the depôt, who suffice for the men at present there.