HC Deb 15 April 1918 vol 105 c42
86. Sir F. HALL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the present strength of the military forces maintained in Ireland and how this compares with the numbers in 1917, 1916, and 1915; and the number of men recruited for the Army in Ireland in the years 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1917, supplying separate figures for Ulster and the rest of Ireland?

Mr. MACPHERSON

It is not in the public interest to publish the number of troops in the various theatres, and no exception can be made in the case of Ireland. In reply to the second part of the question the figures are:

— 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. Total.
Ulster 26,283 19,020 7,305 5,830 58,438
Rest of Ireland 17,851 27,351 11,762 8,193 65,147
44,134 46,371 19,057 14,023 123,585

Mr. DEVLIN

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that nearly one-half of these recruits from Ulster are Irish Nationalists and Catholics?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I cannot say.