§ COLONEL C. W. LONG (Worcester, Evesham)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War how many men of the 56th Field Battery, R. A., were found disqualified for service when the battery was ordered to prepare for embarkation, and on what grounds; what was the number of men and horses required to fill up the battery to foreign service strength; from what source were the men and horses 267 respectively obtained; and how many men of under one year's service, and how many over one year's service, and how many horses remained in each of the batteries after the drafts had been taken to reinforce the 56th Battery?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. W. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordWhen the 56th Field Battery was ordered to prepare for foreign service, it was found that three men were medically unfit, one was absent without leave, and 33 had not two years' service; and 12 more were required to complete the service establishment. The total thus wanting was 49; and to supply it and leave a margin for casualties 56 men were taken from other batteries—viz., seven from the 5th, 15 from the 8th, eight from the 9th, 10 from the 39th, 11 from the 68th, and five from the 78th. The men left in the batteries drawn upon, of under one year's service and over one year's service, respectively, were: 5th Battery, 19 and 97; 8th Battery, 69 and 51; 9th Battery, 13 and 79; 39th Battery, 58 and 57; 68th Battery, 74 and 59; 78th Battery, 52 and 72; but some of these batteries received back the men from the 56th Battery who were not yet fit for foreign service. The 56th Battery will not take horses with it.