§ MR. F. V. KNOXI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many men there are to each horse in the British cavalry; whether it is the fact that each cavalry regiment only averages 300 horses, as against 672 in the French cavalry, 662 in the German cavalry, 935 in the Austrian, and 855 in the Russian; and, whether he will consider the advisability during the present year of low prices and agricultural depression of making increased purchases of horses for the Army?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIn India the British cavalry have 114 men to 100 horses, in the colonies and Egypt 132 men to 100 horses, and at home 157 men to 100 horses. The percentage of dismounted men is necessarily greater at home than abroad, because regiments at home receive and train their own recruits. With the present establishments for cavalry regiments the military authorities do not desire to increase the number of horses, as a proportion of dismounted men is a necessity. The average number of horses with a British cavalry regiment 733 is 388. As to the figures quoted by the hon. Member for foreign countries, I would only say that the number of horses must, of course, bear proportion to the number of men, which varies in different countries.
§ MR. ELLIOTT LEES (Birkenhead)asked the right hon. Gentleman if there was not great difficulty in getting undocked horses?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANsaid, that this subject did not arise out of the question.