§ 11 and 12. Sir JOHN JARDINEasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he can give an assurance that the river craft used for conveying troops up and down the River Tigris and the River Euphrates have proper appliances for securing that the drinking water shall be uncontaminated and not dangerous to health; and (2) whether he is now able to assure the House that sufficient supplies of drugs, medicines, bandages, and other medical appliances have reached the troops at Basra, and in the stations on the lines of the Tigris and the Euphrates?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Lloyd George)My hon. Friend asks me for two assurances, but he will, I am sure, have taken into account that since the War Office assumed the additional responsibilities with which I dealt in the speech I made on the 20th July no sufficient time has elapsed for an appreciable change to have been effected in the situation as a direct result of the change of responsibility. Subject to its being understood that the Army Council do not claim that all has yet been done which should be done and will be done, I may inform him that, on all new boats ordered in the United Kingdom, arrangements for securing adequate proper drinking water have been made. Filtration barges are being sent, and supply tanks on various points in the river will be provided. As regards the vessels already on the spot, I am informed that an installation for sterilising water, recommended by the Director of Medical Services and the late Sir Victor Horsley, has already been provided on many ships and will be fitted to the remainder. Two tanks holding 40 gallons for cooling purposes have also been added on each vessel. A large number of hospital river steamers and barges have also been ordered. As regards drugs, medicines, bandages and other medical appliances, all demands have been supplied and, as the General Officer Commanding has repeatedly been told to ask for all he wants, I am satisfied that sufficient supplies are now available on the spot.
§ Mr. GWYNNEDoes that sufficiency of supplies include tea, because there have been complaints that tea was not supplied?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have no special information upon that point, but I will look into it.