§ Mr. CHARLES HOBHOUSEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many Volunteer battalions have been reported unfit for war; by whom such reports were made, and to whom; whether every soldier enlisted into the Army has no defect likely to interfere with marching or active service; whether all Regular soldiers are first class-shots; and whether, if all Regular soldiers liable for foreign service do not fulfil the above conditions, he can state for what reasons they are to be applied to Volunteers whose only obligations are for home service.
§ MR. ARNOLD - FORSTERNearly all the Volunteer battalions are in the same position as the Line battalions, that is to say, they are unfit fox active service abroad until those men who do not fulfil the necessary conditions have been withdrawn from the ranks. In the care of the Regular Army facilities exist for filling up the vacancies from the Army Reserve. No such resource exists in the case of the Volunteers. In reply to the second part of the Question, the Answer is that many soldiers in the Regular Army are unfit for active service abroad. These men will not be utilised in case of war until they become fit. I consider the number larger than it need be, and the Army Council is making every effort to reduce the proportion of unfit men both by increasing the number of long-service men and by increasing the proportion of rejections of those medically unfit. All Regular soldiers are not first-class shots, but the Army Council has the means of ascertaining what number of men in all mobilised battalions are first-class shots. They desire to obtain the same information with regard to such of the Volunteers as might offer themselves for active service abroad. No obligation is imposed on the Volunteers in this respect. It is quite true that the Volunteers are enlisted for home service only, but past 79 experience has shown that many of them may be relied upon for active service abroad in time of war. It is therefore considered absolutely necessary to make suitable arrangements beforehand for the employment of officers and men who will volunteer.
§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSEHow many Volunteer battalions have been reported unfit for war, and by whom were such reports made?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI have answered that Question. No Volunteer battalions are fit for foreign service in their present condition.
§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSEThat is not an Answer to the Question whether any Volunteer battalions have been reported as unfit, and, if so, how many.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERMy Answer is perfectly clear. We are dealing merely with men who are likely to be engaged on active service abroad. No Volunteer battalion complies with the condition of fitness for active service abroad. It requires no report; it is perfectly well known.
§ MR. MCCRAE (Edinburgh, E.)Will the right hon. Gentleman state how he defines the words "a first-class shot" as applied to the Volunteers.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe hon. Gentleman had better give me notice of that Question.
§ MR. C. R. SPENCER (Northamptonshire, Mid,)Has any officer commanding Volunteer corps answered the circular?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI understand that a great many commanding officers are doing their best to obtain the information that we require, and no doubt we shall receive their reports as soon as they have obtained it.
§ MAJOE SEELY (Isle of Wight)I do not think the right hon. Gentleman understands the Question. In the circular to which my hon. friend refers the information is asked for on the ground that many Volunteer unite are 80 reported as not in a fit state to take the field. My hon. friend desires to know by whom the reports were made, and by whom they were received.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe Report of the Duke of Norfolk's Commission states that many battalions are unfit for war.
§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSEWas the circular based on the Report of the Norfolk Commission, and nothing else?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERIt is based on the Report of the Norfolk Commission and a great deal of other information submitted to the War Office. We are dealing entirely and solely with Volunteer battalions for service abroad. No Volunteer battalions are so fit.
§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSEBy whom, and to whom, were the reports made?
§ [No Answer was returned.]
§ MR. CHARLES ALLEN (Gloucestershire, Stroud)asked whether the period for the inspection ordered by the recent circular had been postponed.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERYes. I thought the time was too short. We have extended the time to October.