§ MR. DELANY (Queen's Co., Ossory)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that 40 men of the 4th Leinster Regiment (Militia), at present attached to D Company, 1st South Lancashire Regiment, Natal Field Force, South Africa, and who completed their term of service on the 17th April last, are detained on service beyond their proper period, notwithstanding that they have applied to be sent home; and will he explain why they are so detained, and whether these men were originally sent to South Africa against their will.
LORD STANLEYI have no information to this effect. As the House has been told on previous occasions, the greatest care was taken to prevent any pressure being brought to bear on Militiamen to volunteer for service in South Africa.