§ MR. PIRIEI beg to ask the Under Secretary for War whether, having regard to the number of Militia battalions which are being called out this year for their annual training at an exceptional date, owing to their taking part in the Autumn manœuvres, and the importance of closely watching the innovation in order to ascertain its effect on Militia recruiting, he will state to the House the number of English, Scottish, and Irish battalions so affected, and the number of recruits enlisted respectively in these battalions during the six months ending 30th June of the present year, and during the corresponding period of last year?
§ MR. BRODRICKSixteen English Militia battalions, four Scotch, and four Irish will attend the Autumn manœuvres. During the six months ending the 30th June, 1897 and 1898, 2,829 and 3,361 recruits joined the English battalions, 811 and 1,001 joined the Scotch, and 340 and 337 joined the Irish. Thus, during the six months ending 30th June, 1898, 719 more recruits joined the 24 battalions than during the same period in 1897.