§ * GENERAL LAURIEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state how many soldiers enlisted for three years colour service have extended their service during the past year; and whether, since the new rule of enlisting for nine years colour service has been introduced, any increase of men so enrolled as short colour-service men have extended their colour service.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe number of three years men who extended their colour service to complete eight years during the year from the 1st April, 1904, to 31st March, 1905, was 12,297, making an average of 1,025 a month. Since the introduction of enlistment for nine years with the colours the number of three years men extending has averaged 900 a month.