§ 19. Sir R. POLE-CAREWasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is yet in a position to say by what date approximately a complete complement of Cavalry remounts will be available for the 15th Hussars?
§ Colonel SEELYI am not yet in a position to give the required information.
§ Sir R. POLE-CAREWHow does the right hon. Gentleman propose to mobilise in a few weeks if he cannot mount one regiment?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Army as a whole and this regiment in particular will be ready for mobilisation at once.
§ Sir R. POLE-CAREWWithout any horses?
§ Colonel SEELYNo; with horses, and with a greater complement of horses than the Cavalry has ever had before in the history of the country.
§ Sir R. POLE-CAREWMay I ask how it is he is obliged to take the Mounted Infantry cobs from one regiment to another?
§ Colonel SEELYIt is very inconvenient to discuss this by question and answer, but it would have been a most ridiculous and extravagant proceeding to attempt to get rid of all these excellent horses, for the purposes of war as well as of peace, all at once in a hurry, just because we had a regiment returning home; the arrange- 1316 ment that has been made by the military authorities has been the best possible, and an excellent arrangement.
§ Sir R. POLE-CAREWWhat are the Mounted Infantry doing now?
§ Colonel SEELYI have mentioned the Mounted Infantry are being reduced in number and that the cobs available are excellent cobs, and I can imagine no commander in the field would be otherwise than delighted to have them at his disposal.