§ MR. ARNOLD FORSTERI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the Gazette of the 12th May thirteen officers of Militia and fifty-nine officers of Volunteers are named as having resigned their commissions, and only two 1640 officers of Militia and four officers of Volunteers as having received first commissions; and whether these resignations involve a net reduction of the officers of Militia by eleven and of the officers of Volunteers by fifty-five, or whether the apparent loss has been made good in whole or in part by the issue of commissions to officers joining the Special Reserve and Territorial Force.
§ MR. HALDANEAs regards the Special Reserve of officers no first appointments are to be made until the last Militia unit has completed its training for the current year. As regards the Territorial Force the Gazetting and issue of Commissions has not yet begun except in the case of a few Royal Army Medical Corps Officers. It is not therefore practicable to calculate any balance of the nature suggested by the right hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERAt this time do not these figures represent a net loss of Militia and Volunteer officers?
§ MR. HALDANEWhy call it a loss when the officers are ready, and will come forward in due course?