§ Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any prospect of the wives and families of non-commissioned officers and men, many of whom have been parted front their families since 1914, being sent out to Palestine; if so, whether they will be put into tents or whether hutments will be-provided; and whether permanent cantonments, with reasonable comfort, are being built for the troops in Palestine, and, if so when?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe question whether the families of non-commissioned officers and men could be sent to Palestine during this trooping season was considered early in 1919, and it was decided that, owing to lack of accommodation, no families should accompany their units. The General Officer Commanding, Egypt, recommended that the families should wait until the husbands had had an opportunity of investigating local conditions, and of deciding whether they wished their families to join them in Palestine. Pending the erection of permanent accommodation, arrangements are being made for the provision of temporary quarters for single officers and men, but until progress has been made with this, it will not be possible to take in hand the provision of married quarters for officers and men. Sites for permanent cantonments with reasonable comforts are now being selected. There has, inevitably, been some delay in this matter, as exact sites could not be selected and purchased until the definite future of the territory to be administered by the British were defined.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Secretary of State for War whether the British troops in Palestine are still under canvas during the wet season; and whether young soldiers under 19 or even under 18 are being sent to Palestine under these conditions?
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§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo other accommodation at present exists in Palestine for troops, and there is, therefore, no other alternative than to use canvas. With regard to the second part of the question, soldiers who have attained the age of 18 years at the date of embarkation, are eligible to be sent, and also bandsmen or band boys who have attained the age of 15 years and have completed three months' service.