§ 35. Colonel M'CALMONTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether 1314 he will state the number of men who have been compulsorily drafted from English, Scottish, and Welsh regiments to fill vacancies in Irish regiments and the number of Irish battalions which have been absorbed through lack of recruits; and whether individual Irishmen serving in non-Irish regiments have been given opportunities of transfer to Irish regiments if they so desire?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI fear that the information asked for in the first part of the question could not be obtained without a prohibitive expenditure of labour. It is not desirable in military interests to state the number of Irish battalions absorbed. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Colonel M'CALMONTIs it not a fact that this information could be obtained from not more than two officers altogether, and does not the hon. Gentleman think it would be advisable to give some information on the subject if only to persuade Irishmen that their regiments are rapidly ceasing to be Irish?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI do not quite agree with the hon. and gallant Gentleman about the number of men to whom I should have to apply. I was informed this morning that I should have to apply to all the commanding officers.
§ Colonel M'CALMONTWill the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my supplementary question?