63. Sir F. HALLasked the Under secretary of State for War if it has been the practice for some time past to arrange that officers who have been engaged for a considerable time on active service in France and elsewhere should be sent back for a six months' period of home service; if a large number of such officers have recently returned to the front not with-standing that only a short part of their six months' period at home had expired; if he will state the reasons for adopting this course in view of the fact that there are a number of officers passed for general service who have not yet left this country, while those sent back have, in a large number of cases, had two years' active service and upwards; and, if so, whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the service of officers at the front shall be more equally distributed?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONOfficers in need of rest from active service have been sent from France and elsewhere for a tour of service at home for a period of six months. Owing to the urgent necessity for experienced officers in particular units, the Commander-in-Chief has in some cases asked for the return of certain officers, and, if found fit for service, they have been sent back.