§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield-Central)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state how many men have been taken from the Militia Reserve for the army in South Africa, and when reinforcements from that body had first to be called for owing to the waste of the campaign; and can he inform the House how many of the Militiamen now serving were members of the force at the annual training of 1899.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, Westhoughton13,574 Militia Reservists have been taken for the army in South Africa. The first drafts to replace wastage left in January, 1900. No figures are available to enable me to reply to the second part of the question.
§ MR. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a Militiaman belonging to the Militia Reserve who has been serving in South Africa since January, 1900, and whose time is up next April, can be compelled by the military authorities to serve ten months longer; and, if not, whether he is entitled to get his discharge.
§ LORD STANLEYA Militia Reservist when called out for permanent service is liable to serve a year beyond the date 222 of the expiration of his Reserve service if a state of war exists.