§ 68. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can give an estimate as to the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men engaged in Regular depots, Territorial depots, and on recruiting duties in the country, and what proportion of them are under forty and fit for service; and whether these men can be released for service abroad and replaced by wounded men or civilians?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, Sir, I cannot, I fear, give an accurate estimate of the numbers of those employed on recruiting duties, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that all the active and Regular officers, non-commissioned officers, and men have been relieved of recruiting duties and replaced by retired officers and non-commissioned officers unfit for service, except in special cases where the man is employed on work for which his special qualifications make it impossible that he should be replaced without detriment to the Service.