§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War what is the effective strength of horses on the British establishment of the Royal Horse Artillery and the Royal Artillery together; and what were the corresponding numbers in 1876, 1877, and 1878?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe effective strength of horses on the British Establishment of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Artillery is at present 4,486. In 1876 it was 5,964; and in 1877 it was 5,950, remaining the same in 1878. The causes for the difference in numbers is the reduction of the Horse Artillery batteries, which accounts for about 730 of the reduction, and in 1879–80 a reduction of about 700 wagon horses was made in the field batteries. There is now a reserve of horses, which did not exist in the earlier Years named.