§ SIR HARRY VERNEYasked the Secretary of State for War, What chaplains are appointed to the Military hospitals at Suez, Port Said, and to the other hospitals in Egypt; and, what 660 chaplains were in the transport which brought sick and dying soldiers from Egypt?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. W. H. SMITH)Returns have not been received of later date than the 1st of April, which would be useless for showing the present distribution of chaplains in Egypt. I may add that a body of chaplains equal, as is thought, to the exigencies of the case is despatched to a foreign command; but their distribution within the command rests entirely with the General Officer commanding. Chaplains are not, as a rule, appointed to hired transports; and the men in such vessels must be dependent on any chaplains who may happen to be sent home in thorn. The subject is one the importance of which I recognize, and it will have my attention.