§ 21 and 22 Captain CARR-GOMMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether there are, in the Salonika Army, several cases of Staff officers and officers employed at the base and Army headquarters who have had more than one period of leave, while there are a number of regimental officers in that force who have had no leave at all for over two years; (2) if the leave parties from the Salonika Force are in two categories: the fortnightly parties, which are for officers and other ranks serving in front of divisional headquarters, and special parties, reserved for all ranks behind brigades; whether, for some months past, there has been no fortnightly party, while the special parties have been sent off constantly; and whether he will draw the attention of the Commander-in-Chief to this matter in view of the desirability of having a fair distribution of leave?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)I have no information bearing out my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestions, but the usual leave arrangements have been necessarily dislocated owing to recent movements of troops in other theatres. With regard to the other points in the questions, I am communicating with the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
§ Captain CARR-GOMMMay I ask if the hon. Gentleman will impress on the authorities concerned the necessity of allowing the officers and men who have served in the front line at least as good an opportunity for leave as those on the Staff and behind the lines?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI will bring the matter to the notice of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
§ Mr. WINGIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there are men out there nearly three years who have had no leave?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of that question.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am coming to a question on that point.
§ 28. Mr. G. LAMBERTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is. possible to consider the granting of leave to soldiers who have been for over two. years in the Balkans?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAt the end of last November there were, unfortunately, seine 900 men who had had no leave, owing to the lack of transport facilities, and the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief informed me then that he was in full sympathy, and would take advantage of any facilities offered to remedy matters. I am communicating again with the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, and shall hope to hear that the position is improving.
§ Mr. G. LAMBERTWhen does the hon. Gentleman expect to hear from him on this matter, as it is one which excites a good deal of public interest?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI may say, on behalf of General Milne, that he has all along done everything possible to give the men leave, and I know for a fact that it is merely because of the difficulty of transport, recently in particular, that more leave has not been given. I am communicating with him to-day.
§ Colonel PENRY WILLIAMSCan the hon. Gentleman say whether similar inquiries have been made with regard to the troops Palestine and Mesopotamia, and whether there is any possibility of those troops getting leave?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe same difficulties arise so far as all distant theatres of war are concerned.