MR. FITZ-PATRICK (for Colonel MILNE-HOME)asked the Secretary of State for War, If, as lately announced in the Public Press, he has instituted an inquiry into the organization of the Army Medical Department; if he is in a position to state its nature; and, if it has any special reference to the maladministration of the Department during the recent Egyptian campaign?
§ MR. GUY DAWNAYasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he considers the organization and working of the Medical Department during the late campaign in Egypt to have been satisfactory; and, if not, whether he will cause an inquiry to be made with a view to ascertaining the causes of the alleged very serious breakdown of the medical arrangements for the treatment of the sick and wounded, and to the remedying of those causes in the future?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, I am very sorry that the hon. and gallant Gentleman (Colonel Milne-Home), whom we all wish to congratulate on his safe return from Egypt, where his gallantry was so marked, should, on his first appearance among us, have assumed that his medical comrades were guilty of maladministration, instead of merely asking whether the allegations about some of them had been, or would be, the subject of inquiry. In answer, however, to his main Question, I have to say that, without assuming the accuracy of many of the complaints made, some of which have been shown to be greatly exaggerated and others altogether unfounded, I have arranged to refer all these matters to a Committee which I had appointed in the summer to inquire into the organization of the Army Hospital Corps, and the Reference to which I have enlarged so as to include all hospital arrangements in the field and on board ship. 1 have, therefore, greatly enlarged the Committee over which Lord Morley presides, including in it for that purpose persons uncon- 271 nected with the Department concerned. In justice to that Department, I think I ought to add that Sir Garnet Wolseley has greatly praised the medical officers generally in Egypt. In reply to the hon. Member for North Yorkshire (Mr. Dawnay), I have to express my hope that he will be good enough to assist the inquiry by giving evidence in support of the statements on this subject which I understand that he has made in print.
§ MR. CHILDERSThe Earl of Morley (Chairman), Admiral Sir William Mends, K.C.B., Major General Hawley, C.B., Major General Sir H. Evelyn Wood, K.C.B., Mr. Thomas Crawford, M.D., Sir William MacCormac, F.R.C.S., and Mr. George Lawson.
CAPTAIN AYLMERasked, if the right hon. Gentleman would also make inquiry into the Transport and Commissariat Department?
§ MR. CHILDERSreplied that, if the hon. Gentleman would give Notice of such a Question, he would tell him what was being done.