§ LORD HENEAGEMy Lords, I rise, in accordance with the notice standing in my name, to ask the Under-Secretary of State for War how many officers serving in cavalry regiments have resigned their commissions or sent in their resignations since the South African War; how many candidates have passed their examinations and received commissions in cavalry regiments during the same period; and what is the number of officers now required, exclusive of officers serving on the Staff or extra-regimental duty, to complete the establishment in all the cavalry regiments.
THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (The Earl of DONOUGH-MORE)My Lords, in reply to the Question I have to say that 321 cavalry officers I have retired voluntarily or resigned their commissions since the South African War; 116 have in the same period received commissions in the cavalry— viz., seventy-nine from the Royal Military College, twenty-seven from the Militia, and ten from the Universities. The total number of vacancies at the present moment is sixty-five. To account for the apparent discrepancy in the figures, 1040 it must be remembered that when the war came to an end there was a large number of supernumerary officers throughout every branch of the service. I do not wish to anticipate the debate on this important subject which takes place next week, but I can assure the noble Lord that this is a matter which we consider of the highest importance. We have been, and are still, collecting evidence on the subject, and it is a question which is undergoing the earnest consideration of my colleagues on the Army Council.