§ MR. LAMBERT (Devonshire, South Molton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of Regular troops, exclusive of reserves, of one year's service and under one year's service, estimated to compose the three army corps intended for foreign service, and the three army corps for home defence respectively.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe usual percentage of soldiers at home in their first year of service is about 27.5 on the total strength of soldiers at home. There seems no reason why this percentage should be materially altered.
§ MR. LAMBERTCan the right hon. Gentleman state the actual number?
§ MR. BRODRICKI can only give the percentage. As the greater part of the Army is in South Africa it would be useless to give the figures.
§ MR. LAMBERTI used the words in the question "estimated to compose."
§ MR. BRODRICKAnd I have given the hon. Member the estimate.
§ COLONEL WELBY (Taunton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether in introducing his resolution on Army organisation he intends to make clear the inner organisation of the six proposed army corps; how divisions and brigades will be arranged; the areas they will occupy; and how existing units of all arms will be grouped; and whether he can see his way to placing in the tea 1308 room a map of the United Kingdom coloured to show the six army corps areas and their sub-divisions into divisional and brigade districts.
§ MR. BRODRICKI am afraid I cannot undertake to have these maps made out at present with the precise areas of divisions and brigades, the more so as a disclosure of the position of all proposed barracks will not facilitate the acquisition of sites. But the inner organisation of these army corps has received most careful consideration.
§ COLONEL WELBYAre we to understand that the organisation of the army corps will be explained on Monday?
§ MR. BRODRICKI do not propose to explain how the divisions and brigades will be grouped, as I should thereby lay myself open to a great deal of local pressure.