§ * COLONEL SANDYS (Lancaster, Bootle)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether his attention has been drawn to the statements in the public prints as to the number of soldiers in the force now mobilised for manœuvre in the New Forest who are unable to keep up with their regiments, and have fallen out of the ranks on the line of 1234 march; whether it is the case that the inability to march is not confined to the infantry battalions at present being exercised at home, under conditions approaching those of service in the field; what steps he proposes to take in order to deal with a matter so vital to the efficiency of our Army; and, whether he is prepared to make good marching under service conditions as important a feature in the future training of British troops as the good shooting?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to the statements referred to, and he has called for full Reports on the subject from the General Officer commanding. Until these Reports shall have been received, no opinion can be expressed as to defects in marching, or as to the causes of such defects. The Secretary of State concurs in the view indicated in the last paragraph of the question in regard to the importance of good marching under service conditions, and the results of the manœuvres in this respect will be carefully considered by the Military Authorities.