§ 45. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether, in order to satisfy the House of the absolute need of compulsorily enlisting all men of military age, he will, before the Third Reading of the Military Service Bill, state either the numbers of the Army or the proportionate strength of the Armies now serving in the United Kingdom, at Salonika, in Egypt, and in India, respectively, or alternatively, will he assure the House that the numbers in each of these theatres of war have been recently reconsidered by the General Staff and the Cabinet and that it is impossible safely to reduce these numbers in order to strengthen our Armies in France and Flanders?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have recently informed the House of the total number of divisions raised. It is undesirable for military reasons to give the distribution of these divisions to the various theatres of war. The distribution of our forces is the subject of constant consideration by the War Committee who are advised on this matter by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff.