§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether a naval officer has been sent to Calcutta for five years for the purpose of taking over the command of a corps of Naval Volunteers, similar in constitution to those recently disbanded in the United Kingdom; will he state the nationality, number of men in the corps, and at whose cost the Commandant has been sent out; whether there are similar corps in other parts of India; if so, what number of men are enrolled; and whether all the expenses are paid by the British or Indian Government?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. GEORGE) Russell, North Beds.Perhaps my hon. Friend will allow me to answer this question. A retired naval officer has been sent out as Naval Instructor to the Calcutta Naval Volunteers, a body about 350 strong. It is composed of British subjects, mostly English, Scotch, and Irish, it is believed. Measures have for some time been in progress for the formation of similar corps, either as Naval or as Artillery Volunteers, to take part in the schemes for the defence of Aden, Kurrachee, Bombay, Rangoon, and Moul-mein. The expenses are borne by the Indian Government.