MR. TANKERVILLE CHAMBER-LAYNE (Southampton)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he 768 will arrange that invalid soldiers and others arriving at Southampton from South Africa shall be conveyed to their destinations by the shortest route from that port, seeing that the present route, via Andover and Cheltenham, involves many hours extra travelling to those whose homes are in Ireland, Scotland, or the East of England.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) Longer routes, when used, are employed for the purpose of avoiding transfer in London and to utilise through carriages, whereby change of trains and waiting at junctions is avoided. The particular route mentioned is generally used for the conveyance of parties to the North of Ireland, midland counties, and Scotland, and the railway company invariably gives a special train or through carriage for parties of twenty and upwards.