§ 88. Mr. GWYNNEasked whether the War Office has refused to send boots and underclothes to British prisoners of war in Bulgaria; and, if not, what steps have been taken to ensure that these prisoners are kept properly clothed?
§ Mr. FORSTERAlthough it is essentially the duty of the Bulgarian Government to clothe its prisoners of war properly, the War Office, far from refusing to recognise the needs of British-prisoners in Bulgaria, has been trying for some time past to discover a sure means of dispatch for articles of clothing required. Arrangements were made a short time ago which will, it is hoped, prove satisfactory.
§ Mr. GWYNNEHas the War Office in fact sent out any boots to the prisoners in Bulgaria?
§ Mr. FORSTERI cannot say whether any have been actually dispatched.
§ Mr. GWYNNEWill the hon. Gentle-man make arrangements to see that they are carried out?
§ Mr. FORSTERObviously you must make arrangements before they can be carried out.
§ Mr. GWYNNEHas the hon. Gentleman not had some time to make arrangements? Has he not had time to carry them out?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe matter is not quite so easy as it might appear, and I can assure my hon. Friend there has been no avoidable delay. We are just as keen to get clothing out to prisoners of war as anyone can be.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWhen were these prisoners taken?
§ Mr. FORSTERPresumably the prisoners were taken when the Bulgarian and British Armies were in conflict.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI presume this was in the operations in November last?
§ Mr. FORSTERSpeaking from memory, the only opportunity there has been for the Bulgarian Army to take prisoners was when the Armies were in conflict north of Salonika.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat was in November last.