§ SIR JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the results of the general application of enlistment for three-years recruits recently established; what is the percentage of re-engagements required in the several arms of the service to fulfil the requirements of the Army abroad; and what percentage of men in the several arms have re-engaged.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) As regards recruiting it is difficult to estimate the effect of the three years system of enlistment as it was initiated during the South African war, and as subsequently recruiting has been closed for several branches of the service, but, generally speaking, recruiting may be said to show steady progress. As regards extensions the percentage required is calculated to be as follows:—
161 The figures showing the actual extensions are not complete, as the returns from abroad have not yet been received, but percentages at home of those eligible to draw service pay on 1st April and 1st May who extended to the whole number so eligible were as follows:—
Infantry of the Line 71.68 Cavalry 41.90 Horse and Field Artillery 31.23 Garrison and Mountain Artillery 100
| April. | May. | |
| Infantry of the Line | 13.4 | 12.17 |
| Cavalry | 28.5 | 5.64 |
| Horse and Field Artillery | 49.5 | 29.58 |
| Garrison Artillery | 48.6 | 33.76 |