45. Mr. REDMONDasked the Secretary of State for War whether the 10th Royal Dublin Fusiliers are still attached to the Naval Division; and, if so, what reason there is for not attaching them to an Irish Division?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI recognise, of course, the special interest taken by my hon. and learned Friend and by other Members in the allocation of this battalion, but it is, I fear, impossible to make exceptions to the rule that military information in regard to details of the order of battle must not be made public. The point raised is one for the Commander-in-Chief in France to settle, and I have no doubt that he has done and will do all he can to secure the close association of Irish units, but he must, of course, have regard to paramount military considerations and he must also bear in mind the fact that the principle underlying my hon. and learned Friend's question is capable of very wide extension, and, if so extended, would in effect remove from the Commander-in-Chief a large part of his discretion in regard to the disposition of his troops. The power to use and dispose of troops according to military exigencies and to military exigencies alone is, of course, an essential and indefeasible function of a Commander-in-Chief.
Mr. REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the fact that serious complaints have been made that Irish reserves are not being sent to fill up certain gaps in, the Irish Division, and in view of the fact that the 10th Royal Dublin Fusiliers was raised as a reserve battalion in Ireland, is it not reasonable for us to ask that they should be sent to the Irish Division?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have no doubt that consideration is present to the mind of the Commander-in-Chief. As a matter of fact, my hon. and learned Friend knows that it was brought specially to his notice, but I made it perfectly clear that the allocation of this battalion must be subject to military exigencies in France, and as the Commander-in-Chief has alone to be the judge of what ought to be done under these circumstances it would be a very serious matter for us to interfere from the War Office with his discretion.
Mr. REDMONDAm I to understand that the battalion is not, or will not be, attached to the Irish Division?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGENo. My hon. and learned Friend simply referred to a single battle—
Mr. REDMONDThat is the other question which I postponed at the request of the right hon. Gentleman. This question is simply whether the 10th Royal 27 Dublin Fusiliers are still attached to the Naval Division, and, if so, what reason is there for not attaching them to the Irish Division?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEMy hon. and learned Friend has asked me if I can state whether there is any intention of retaining them in their present position. I clearly could not give an answer to that without consulting the Commander-in-Chief.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe same question might be put in reference to any Scotch, Irish, English or Welsh men in the Naval Division?