HC Deb 19 February 1917 vol 90 cc982-3
Major HENRY TERRELL

(by Private, notice) asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether last month an Order was issued to officers commanding battalions in France in the following terms:—

"26. Issue of part-worn clothing service dress: The following extract from Army Council Instruction No. 1321 of 1916 is published for information and guidance."

"Utilisation of part-worn service dress clothing: This is an emergency measure to meet existing conditions, and though the standard of the renovated part-worn clothing may be much below that of ordinary peace issue it must be accepted without question and continued in wear to the utmost possible extent. So long as wearable no objection to its reissue can be entertained," and whether such Order was issued in consequence of complaints and protests, etc., to the quality of the part-worn clothing issued?

Mr. FORSTER

Inquiries have been made of the Commander-in-Chief in France, and I am informed that no general routine Order or Army Order of the kind mentioned has been issued. If my hon. Friend will let me know where and to whom the order in question was issued it will save a great deal of trouble and assist investigation.

Major TERRELL

The answer is so unsatisfactory and the matter so urgent that I shall bring it up again. I did not mention a routine Order, I did not mention a general Army Order, but it was from an Army Corps Order, and I have an extract from the Order in my hand?

Mr. FORSTER

If my hon. Friend had given me the Order, as I asked him to do when he spoke about this question before, it would have saved the military authorities both in this country and in France a great deal of trouble.

Major TERRELL

The hon. Gentleman did not ask me for a copy of the Order. He asked me for the name of the unit from which I got my information. I offered to give the name on an undertaking that the officer commanding that unit should not suffer for giving me that information, and I was told that the general officer, director of supplies, could not give any such undertaking?

Mr. FORSTER

And I told my hon. Friend that no British officer who looks after the interests of his men properly will get into trouble.

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