§ Colonel GREIGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a statement which appeared in a certain weekly journal at the beginning of last month to the effect that eight members of the Tredegar Rugby Football Club went to Newport to join the Black Watch but did not sign on because the recruiting officers would only enlist them for the South Wales Borderers; and whether there is any truth in the statement?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Tennant)Yes, Sir, I have seen the statement referred to, and find on inquiry that it is quite untrue. It appears that eight members of the club—none 6 of whom were Scotsmen—called on the recruiting agent at Tredegar and asked whether the Black Watch was open for recruits. They were told that the Black Watch was only open to Scotsmen and were offered a warrant to take them to the Central Recruiting Office, Newport, which they declined, and no further steps appear to have been taken by them in the matter to show that they had any serious intention of enlisting. I may explain that recruiting for the Black Watch has never been open outside Scotland for any but boná-fide Scotsmen or Highlanders, and that transfers to Highland Regiments are not permitted without reference to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Scottish Command.