17. Mr. HAZLETONasked the Chief Secretary if he can state the total number of men from Ireland with the forces to 15th October, 1916, including Reservists and men with the forces at the outbreak of war?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. Duke)The figure 130,241 shown in the statement recently presented to Parliament is believed to include all the recruits who joined the Army and Navy from Ireland between the outbreak of War and the 15th October last, and also the Reservists called up outside of the Dublin Metropolitan Police area for service in the Army. Figures are not at present available showing the number of Army Reservists called up from the area mentioned. It was stated on the 8th November by the Secretary to the Admiralty, in reply to a question of the hon. Member, that 3,098 Naval Reservists had been called up from Ireland and that over 8,000 Irishmen were estimated to be serving in the Fleet on the outbreak of war. It appears from the Annual Report of the British Army that 20,780 Irishmen were serving in the Regular Army on the 1st October, 1913, and this number probably approximates to the number serving on the outbreak of war.