§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is correct, as stated by the military correspondent of the Times, that at the inspection on Saturday of four battalions of the Foot Guards the aggregate of all ranks was "considerably under 2,000;" and what is the establishment strength of these four battalions?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEThe total number of all ranks of the four battalions which paraded for inspection on the 26th inst. was 2,387, out of 3,172 effectives, including recruits, men in hospital, &c. The establishment of these four battalions is 3,362. The recruiting for the Brigade of Foot Guards compares favourably with former years. The waste this year has been abnormally large, as all the men enlisted under the old. rule of seven years with the colours go to the Reserve as well as the usual annual proportion of men enlisted for three years' service with the colours; but, in spite of this double drain, the Brigade is only slightly under its establishment.