§ 24. Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Secretary for War why, on page 125 of the General Annual Report on the British Army, published in 1912, it is stated that 94,989 non-commissioned officers and men are due to become time-expired between the 1st of October, 1912, and the 30th of September, 1913, and why, on page 125 of the General Annual Report on the British Army, published this year, it is stated that 114,621 non-commissioned officers and men are due to become time-expired between the same dates, the 1st of October, 1912, and the 30th of September of this year; and which of these two figures, showing a difference of no fewer than 19,632, is correct?
§ Colonel SEELYBoth figures are correct. During the year ending 1st October, 1912, 30,268 men re-engaged for one year's service, and would thus have raised the numbers due to go in the year ending 1st October, 1913, to 125,257, but for casualties of various kinds, which reduced the numbers to the figure of 114,621, recently published.