HC Deb 28 May 1900 vol 83 cc1490-1
SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if, without injury to the public service, he can inform the. House what is the total strength in men and guns of the Army in South Africa at the present time, and what is the total strength in men and guns of the Army (including Reserves and Auxiliary Forces) within the United Kingdom, and also in India, as well as in other Colonies and Dependencies of the British Empire.

* MR. WYNDHAM

The total number of troops of all kinds in South Africa is about 221,000. The total number of †See pages 392 and 574. men under arms at home cannot be stated with any exactitude, as we have no returns of recruiting from the Volunteers. The Regulars, including Royal Reserves, numbered on May 1st, 102,730 rank and file, and the Militia about 77,000. It is not considered expedient to publish details of armament, or of the garrisons of India and the Colonies.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

How many Boors are there? You are ten to one