§ MR. PIRIEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state how many companies and the total number of Volunteers in South Africa who could be relieved under the provisions of Army Order 29 of 1902; also, seeing that since the issue of that Order only thirty-six officers and 1,460 men have been raised, how long it will take to effect the total relief intended.
§ MR. BRODRICKThere are at present in South Africa fifty-five companies and detachments of Volunteers to be relieved, amounting in all to about 4,860 men. The time for effecting their total relief depends entirely on the readiness of further recruits to come forward, or on Lord Kitchener being able to dispense with their services.