§ Major H. TERRELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there are in Training Reserve battalions at home many commanding and other officers in category A who have never served abroad; and, if so, why are they kept at home instead of being sent out?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe large majority of commanding officers are, by reason of their age, unfit for active command in the field and are more profitably employed in training troops at home. Other officers fit for general service take their turn to go out—having regard to the absolute necessity of keeping efficient instructors, without whom the training of the drafts cannot be properly carried out.
§ Major TERRELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the majority of Training Reserve battalions have ever since their formation been greatly under their establishment; and whether it is practically certain that sufficient recruits will not be obtained to bring them up to establishment; and, if so, what reason is there for incurring the expense 968W involved in maintaining a number of incomplete battalions with large permanent staffs?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Training Reserve is at the present moment being reorganised, and on completion of this reorganisation it is anticipated that all battalions will be completed to establishment, provided the number of recruits forthcoming remains normal.