§ SIR JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)I beg to ask the Secretary of 1228 State for War whether he can state the date on which the order directing the suspension of the enlistment of specials was in the hands of recruiting officers.
§ MR. BRODRICKOwing to the constant movement of troops during the last few months it has been very difficult to arrive at exact figures as to the numbers of the Army, but on receipt of the figures for 1st February, which reached me about the middle of the month, I decided on 17th February, after consultation with the military authorities, that certain standards should be raised, and that the taking of "specials" should be stopped for the infantry. An Army Order was accordingly drafted and instructions were sent out on the 27th February.