§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether it be a fact that after six 1609 days' route inarching undertaken by battalions in the Brigade of Guards, 220 men of the Grenadiers were reported sick and 12 men of the 2nd Coldstream Guards; what was the total marching out strength of the battalions referred to; and how many of the men in each were respectively long service men, short service men, or men enlisted for three years?
§ MR. BRODRICKNo, Sir; the facts fire not as stated. The 220 men of the Grenadiers were the total number who, during the six days in question, were for any cause seen by the medical officer. No record of such men was kept by the Coldstream Guards. The number who fell out was 22 in the Grenadiers and six in the Coldstreams, and the admissions to hospital were severally IT and six. The marching-out strength was 1,460 Grenadiers and 980 Coldstreams. The three-years' men numbered 576, the seven-years' men 789, and there were 145 men of more than seven years' service, but these only refer to the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Grenadier Guards and to the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards. The similar returns for the 3rd Grenadiers and 1st Coldstreams have not been received.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERasked whether the statement was not a serious libel on the Brigade of Guards.
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That is a matter of opinion.