§ In answer to the Earl of LONGFORD,
THE EARL OF MORLEY saidMy Lords, I do not distinctly understand the meaning of the noble Earl's Question. Does he mean by a battalion efficient for service a battalion at the full strength of 820, and composed exclusively of men who have served at 2 least one year with the Colours, with its equipment, transport, &c.? If he does, I frankly admit that there is no battalion in that condition, and I am not in the least ashamed to make that admission. It is not intended to keep all battalions at their full strength, and I scarcely know what arrangements the noble Earl would propose, so as to have no men serving with the Colours of less than a year's service, unless he stops recruiting altogether. But, my Lords, after the battalions composing the First Army Corps have all left the country, either for field or garrison service, many of the regiments which will be left at home are, at the present moment, at a strength considerably above their Establishments, and they will be much strengthened by an infusion of the Reserve men who have been recently called out. These Reserve men will, as far as possible, be posted to the regiments in which they served formerly; the majority will be for service in the field and Reserve Force to be established in the Mediterranean; but a larger number of the 10,000 will be left 3 to strengthen the regiments which will be left at home. And, if the extremely improbable emergency were to arise, which would require us to prepare for active service the battalions which compose the Second Army Corps, and which nave Establishments varying from 550 to 850, it could be done without delay, by calling to the Colours a larger number of Reserve men to replace the men in these battalions who, from age or shortness of service, are disqualified for active service. Under our arrangements, which I have good reason to hope will prove successful, it is possible to send out of this country an Army which, including the Indian Contingent and the battalions for the Mediterranean garrisons, will not fall short of 40,000 men of all arms, without materially weakening the Force in Ireland, and without denuding this country of troops. The noble Earl raised a laugh last night by saying that the Army could not wait for the convenience of the Secretary of State. What I said was this—that last year the new organization was adopted, the main object of which was to have at home 12 battalions at a strength of 950 men, all serving for seven years, and which would at all times be ready to put 820 men into the field without calling up the Reserves. The 16 battalions next on the list would have establishments varying from 550 to 850, and would have to be filled up, if required for active service, by the Reserves. The remaining battalions at home would be at a low strength; and, if required for the field, it could only be for an emergency which would call into operation all the military resources of the country. The Establishments of the Army have been recast on this principle; and, considering the shortness of the time since it has been in force, I venture, without the least fear of contradiction, to say that it has been attended with marked success. But when the noble Earl expects us to manufacture in six months soldiers who have served for 12 months, he asks for an impossibility. An emergency had arisen at a time when these new Establishments are in process of being built up, and if they had had another year to harden, we should have been able to send an Army Corps into the field with greater facility, and with a smaller—if any—demand on the Reserves than we can at present. I take 4 this opportunity of making some explanation as to "Separation Allowances," with the details of which I was not prepared last night. This subject has occupied the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War for some time, and a considerable improvement has been recently effected. Formerly the Separation Allowances were 6d. per day for wives of all soldiers, and 2d. for each child up to 14 years of age. The soldier was not required to supplement these allowances out of his pay. Now, the wife of a non-commissioned officer receives 8d. a-day from the public and 8d. out of her husband's pay allotted to her, and the wife of a private soldier 8d. a-day from the public, and 4d. a-day from her husband's pay. The allowance for each child (boys under 14, girls under 16) is 2d. a-day granted by the State, and in the case of sergeants 1½d. a-day, and of rank and file 1d. a-day for each girl (up to a certain maximum) is stopped from the soldier's pay. I also wish to correct one point in the report of my remarks last night. I said, or intended to say, that no man under one year's service, or under 20 years of age, would be sent on active service in the field.