§ 56. Mr. PETOasked the Under-Secretary of State for War why leave for officers at the front was stopped at Easter time; and whether this was done in the interest of civilian Easter holiday traffic?
§ Mr. TENNANTLeave was suspended on account of congestion in railway traffic.
§ Mr. PETOWas it intended by the War Office to suspend all leave of the troops who are serving in France, or was this due to some mistake in the instructions?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe history of the matter is that at Easter, 1915, a good many soldiers who came home on leave were unable to get to their homes at all. We thought that was very undesirable and that it would be much better that leave should be suspended while the railways were congested.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLWhy, as an alternative, did not the War Office suspend civilian traffic?
§ Mr. TENNANTThat was impracticable.