§ MAJOR F. C. RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the battalion of the Somerset Regiment now in India was found unfit for active service at the front owing to disease, and sent back; what was the nature of the disease, and the number of men found unfit for service from that cause; and what was the proportion remaining fit for duty?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe 1st Battalion Somersetshire Light Infantry was employed throughout the operations of the Mohmand Field Force, and returned to Peshawar when that force was broken up. It suffered somewhat during the operations from fever and ague; but on 1st October last it had 895 men fit for duty. There is nothing to show that the battalion was unfit for active service.