§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he will explain why, after the 4th Surrey Regiment volunteered for the front on 16th February, and was ordered to embark on 23rd February, and after 200 men not yet embodied had joined, officers had provided themselves with field equipment, and the service clothing of the battalion had been issued, an order was received on 22nd February cancelling the embarkation; and why this expense was incurred.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThe expense of preparing the battalion for field service was incurred because the battalion was put under orders. These orders were cancelled because two serious cases occurred indicating a want of discipline in the battalion, and the Commander-in-Chief did not consider it advisable to allow the battalion to proceed on service.
† See The Parliamentary Debates [Fourth Series], Vol. lxxviii., commencing at page 339.