§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of men now serving, with more than three months' service, who were specially enlisted below the standard as to age and measurements and who, although they 1271 have not attained the standard required for enlistment under ordinary circumstances, are counted as effective soldiers; and whether he can state the standard of measurements for these "specials" in the infantry arm of the service.
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverFrom the figures given in paragraph 30 of the Report of the Inspector-General of Recruiting it appears that on the 1st January there were in the army at home, 2,563 men of more than three months' service who were specially enlisted and had not then reached the standard. There is no separate standard for special enlistments. Only those men are so enlisted who are likely to reach the general standard.