London, 29th June.
Mr. E. W. Beckett (Whitby, 0.) moved the adjournment of the House to consider the alarming deficiency in the drafts for South Africa and India, and the delay in the completion of Army Reform.—Feclusive t service.
London oii Bombay, 29th June.
Inthe army debate in the House of Commons, Mr, Arnold-Forster, Secretary for War, denied that recruiting bad fallen off, but: said that, it.was difficult to exaggerate the seriousness of the position, which was due to the failure of the men to extend. their' period' of. service. Fortunately, the extensions in India had been adequate.
The difficulty. was.not.acute, and the remedy consisted in substituting for the present system one more in harmony with the ¢onditions of the empire.
Mr. Arnold-Forster, emphasised the complicated "nature of army' reorg ganisation, especially the. Indian reor} lion was soluble, problem, but he hepato the task: of He was. convinced that: the question was one of paramount' importance, and must'bé dealt with drastic cally soon, but he asked the: members not to press it unduly.
Mr. Balfour said, th the. difficulties} were only difficulties of detail, and he hoped that Mr. Arnold-Forster would be able to make a statement: at.no distant date.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.