§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, last October, the first Canadian contingent (time expired men) refused to serve till the end of the war; whether he is aware that Colonel Otter, the officer in command, informed Lord Roberts, without consultation with the other officers, that the men would remain, and that the fact was communicated in regimental orders, with the result that the officers notified Colonel Otter next day that the C, E, F, and H companies, and the majority of O company, refused to re-engage; and whether, in the light of 740 recent occurrences, precautions are taken to secure that no pressure be brought to bear on time expired men to re-engage.
§ MR. BRODRICKA certain number of the Canadian Regiment volunteered to prolong their services until the end of the war and a certain number did not. In the end all elected not to prolong their service. I am not aware of what passed between Colonel Otter and his officers. No pressure is put on men, whose engagements have expired, to re-engage.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLAre not the facts as stated in the second paragraph?
§ MR. BRODRICKNo, Sir.