§ 4. Mr. WINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will arrange to 709 grant a more generous proportion of leave or furlough to those regiments whose men have been out over nine months and some even twelve months?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am afraid that I can only refer my hon. Friend to the full answer I gave on this matter on the 16th September. I know that the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief is strongly impressed with the desirability of giving leave as freely as military exigencies and administrative conditions permit. I cannot, however, think that the present moment is one at which we should be contemplating an increase in the grant of leave. I feel confident that our soldiers, even after the severe strain they have encountered with a cheerfulness which commands the admiration of all men, would not wish to be baulked of the glorious opportunity for which during these many months they must have longed.
§ Colonel YATEHas the right hon. Gentleman noticed in the papers an account of two men coming home on leave, who, when they got to Boulogne and heard fighting was going on, at once chucked up their leave—and went back again?
§ Mr. TENNANTI had not heard of that, but it is exactly in consonance with what I should expect.