§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Why the commissions in the Chaplains' Department, vacant by the retirement of the Reverend W. C. Magill and the Reverend J. F. Browne, have not been filled; whether it is a fact that a Catholic chaplain to the forces in Egypt is to be withdrawn and not replaced; what is the number of troops 1378 now stationed at York; and, why there is no Catholic chaplain there?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The only vacancy not filled among Roman Catholic chaplains is that caused by the retirement of the Rev. J. F. Browne in December last. It is not proposed to fill this vacancy at present, as there is no station at which there are sufficient Roman Catholic soldiers to justify the employment of a commissioned chaplain. No order has been given for the withdrawal of the chaplains of this denomination from Egypt. The Roman Catholic soldiers at York are only about 160; and an officiating chaplain has been appointed.