§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he will inform the House of the number of recruits enlisted during the three months ending 30th June, specifying how many are specials for height or physique, and comparing these numbers with similar figures for the same three months of last year, and, if possible, giving the number of infantry recruits joining the territorial regiments of the districts to which they belong, and the numbers not doing so; and if he will state the number of Reservists in each of the three arms who have rejoined during this period of this year?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe numbers of recruits enlisted during the quarters ending on 30th June, 1897 and 1898, respectively, were 6,074 and 7,835, of whom 1,805 and 2,554 were respectively specials. The numbers of Infantry recruits who joined the territorial regiments of the districts to which they belong during the same periods were 1,905 and 2,203, the numbers who did so join were 1,926 and 2,470. The numbers of Reservists who rejoined during the quarter ending the 2nd July, 1898, were—for the Royal Artillery 101, for the Foot Guards 11, and for Infantry of the Line 884. The total net gain to the Army in the three months was 2,454, as compared with a loss of 508 last year.
§ MR. BRODRICKReservists are not allowed to rejoin the Cavalry.