§ Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) if on mobilisation it is the intention to supply the shortage of 600 Regular Infantry officers for the six divisions of the Expeditionary Force by withdrawing Regular officers, including adjutants, from the 74 third battalions of the Special Reserve, by withdrawing Regular officers, including adjutants, on the staff of the Territorial Infantry, and by withdrawing Regular officers on the staff of the Officers' Training Corps; and (2) if it is the intention on mobilisation to make good the shortage of 600 officers in the six divisions of the Expeditionary Force by withdrawing Regular officers, including adjutants, from the 74 third battalions of the Special Reserve, the staff of the Territorial Force, or from the staff of the Officers' Training Corps; how many Regular officers will have to be withdrawn from each of these three forces; whether the number of regular officers in these three forces is sufficient to allow 600 of their number to be deducted; and from what sources the vacancies created would be made good?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Secretary of State enumerated in the Debate in another place on Wednesday last, the various sources of supply of officers which could be drawn upon in order to complete the Expeditionary Force, some of which are named in the Question. The Secretary of State was careful not to prejudge the proportions in which these sources would be drawn upon. In any case, no officer would be withdrawn from any of the appointments alluded to in the question without arrangements being made for the vacancy so created being adequately filled.
§ Mr. AMERYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) what is the total number of Regular Infantry officers required 930W for the six divisions of the Expeditionary Force, exclusive of those required for staff appointments; what is the total number of Regular Infantry officers at home with their battalions and not seconded to other duties; (2) what number of Regular Infantry officers are attached to the Special Reserve and to the Territorial Force respectively; how many of these would have to be taken away from their present duties to complete the mobilisation strength of the Expeditionary Force; and (3) how many Infantry officers belonging to the Regular Army, the Special Reserve, and the General Reserve of officers, respectively, will be left behind after the mobilisation of the Expeditionary Force; how many of these will be available for the Regular Infantry battalions left behind on mobilisation; how many for the Special Reserve battalions; and how many for service with the Territorial Force?
§ Colonel SEELYIt is not considered expedient to publish detailed figures concerning present mobilisation arrangements. The point raised in Question 114* has already been dealt with in reply to Questions 106* and 107*.
§ Mr. AMERYasked how many non-commissioned officers and men of the Infantry of the Regular Forces, of the Special Reserve, and of the Army Reserve of all classes will be left in the United Kingdom after the mobilisation of the Expeditionary Force; how many of these, in the case of the Regular Forces and Special Reserve, will be under twenty years of age or will have had less, than one year's training?
§ Colonel SEELYAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the figures contained in the reply given to a question put by the hon. Baronet the Member for West Marylebone on the 20th ult. As regards the second part of the question, no such statistics are available in connection with those figures.
§ Mr. AMERYasked what is the estimated monthly wastage in war of the Expeditionary Force in Infantry officers and non-commissioned officers and men respectively?
§ Colonel SEELYPercentages are calculated on a six months' wastage, and will be found on page 69 of the Mobilisation Regulations, 1912. The wastage for Infantry is reckoned at 44 per cent.