§ 24. Colonel DU PREasked the Under secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to ensure that voluntarily enlisted or attested men who are over military age, as defined by the Military Service Act, 1918, will not be sent abroad except with their own consent?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)I regret that I am unable to give any pledge or undertaking in regard to the maximum age above which a man will not be drafted abroad?
25. Colonel DUPREasked the Under secretary of State for War whether he is aware that non-commissioned officers of fifty-four years of age who voluntarily reenlisted in 1914 as instructors for home service only are now being medically examined and drafted abroad; and whether he will state under what Regulation or Army Council Instruction this is being done?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThere is no intention to draft abroad any noncommissioned officers or men whose terms of enlistment are for home service only, provided that they do not come under the Military Service Acts.
§ 26. Mr. KINGasked the Under secretary of State for War whether special instructions have been recently given under which certain Home service companies, composed of men in categories B 2 and B 3, have been examined by a special medical board, and, while their 2186 categories remain unchanged, are placed in three classes, namely, Class 1 for frontline trenches, Class 2 for second-line trenches, and Class 3 for digging, etc., in France; whether this policy has included the official announcement that all men. so classified are to be vaccinated, inoculated, and sent on draft leave; whether arms and equipment have been issued to.some of these men, who arc quite untrained with rifle, and, by reason of wounds, physical disability, or mental deficiency, incapable of effective service in the front lines; and whether, in view of the anxiety caused by this policy, he can make a reassuring statement?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe particulars given by my hon. Friend are inaccurate. The examination and classification to which, it is presumed, he refers, represent the usual procedure for the periodical review of soldiers serving at home to ascertain whether they can be utilised on duties better suited to their physical condition. The Army Council are taking every reasonable precaution to ensure that men will be utilised on duties for which they are fitted.
§ Mr. PRINGLEDo I understand then that medical boards only require men of the higher classes who are really fitted for this work to do it?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have no information to the contrary. If my hon. Friend will mention any specific case, I shall be glad to look into it.