§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for War what was the deficiency of Militia Officers on 1st March of the present year, and what the deficiency on 1st March, 1896?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE: FOR WAR (Mr. W. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,1505 Surrey, Guildford) On the 1st March of the present year there were 712 combatant officers deficient in the Militia, and on the same date two years ago 607. The increased deficiency is made up of two Lieutenants Colonels, 1 Major, and 115 Subalterns, against an increase of 13 Captains. The net increased deficiency of 105 is accounted for by the extra 102 Line commissions given to the Militia in 1897. An addition to the Line commissions granted necessarily produces an immediate loss to the Militia; but applications for appointments to that force are now coming in quickly.