HC Deb 27 February 1908 vol 185 c36
MR. GODFREY BARING (Isle of Wight,)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the four battalions to be withdrawn from South Africa will, on their return, be supernumerary to the expeditionary force as laid down in 1906.

MR. HALDANE

When the four infantry battalions are withdrawn from South Africa one of them will be utilised to complete the expeditionary force. This will leave three battalions available to increase the infantry allotted to lines of communication for which two battalions-only at present are detailed.