§ COLONEL WELBY (Taunton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, with reference to his statement that all 675 questions of mobilisation are kept secret by Continental Powers, whether he is aware that in the "Armed Strength of the German Empire," and in that of Russia, officially published by the War Office, there appear plans of mobilisation, compiled from published orders for those armies, showing, almost day by day, the work each army carries out until mobilisation is complete; and whether he can see his way to publishing a plan of mobilisation for our Army Corps, showing day by day the work to be done, as a guide and instruction for those who may be suddenly called upon to perform duties they have had no opportunity of practising in time of peace?
§ MR. BRODRICKI am informed that the books to which my honourable and gallant Friend refers are obsolete. They were not compiled from published orders, as the regulations for mobilisation in the countries named are confidential. Instructions for guidance on mobilisation will be available for all officers concerned, but it is not necessary or desirable that all the details should be published.
§ COLONEL WELBYI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that by the Regulations for Mobilisation, 1894, the Commander of the Second Army Corps with his staff is to mobilise at Colchester; his Fourth Division in Ireland, with one unit at Edinburgh, one at Warley; his Fifth Division in Ireland, with one unit at Warley, one at Colchester; his Sixth Division in England, with one unit in Glasgow; his Corps troops in England, with two units in Ireland; and whether he can see his way to simplify this scheme of mobilisation so that this Army Corps may wholly mobilise either in Great Britain or in Ireland?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe Mobilisation Regulations of 1894 have been replaced by a new edition, which will be issued very shortly. In this edition it has been possible to simplify in some particulars the previous scheme of mobilisation; and, as has been already stated, every effort has been made to secure the mobilisation of the Army Corps from contiguous districts. With the present location of barracks, it is not, however, possible to mobilise a complete Army Corps in one district.