§ 13. Sir HENRY CRAIKasked the Secretary of State for War whether it would be possible promptly to demobilise those officers still retained in France whose units have been cut down to cadre strength and who have consequently nothing to do, and whose retention causes heavy cost and is at the same time detrimental to their future careers?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPersonnel surplus to cadre establishment will be absorbed into other units affiliated to the same record office, to be sent for dispersal in the normal manner if eligible for demobilisation or to be retained if not eligible. Officers who are not required for the Army 1830 of Occupation or the military machinery of demobilisation are being released as rapidly as circumstances permit.
Colonel THORNEHas the right hon. Gentleman made personal inquiry into the number of men who are simply fooling about at the present time in France?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think it is very remarkable how rapidly demobilisation is progressing in France. We are now within a very little of the limit that we have fixed for the Army there during the occupation period. It may well be that there are a certain number of men who have not been fully employed all the time, and whom we have not been able to bring home. We will bring them over as soon as we possibly can.
§ Sir H. CRAIKIf I bring before the right hon. Gentleman a certain number of cases of officers who have absolutely nothing to do, will he hasten their demobilization?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLDemobilisation is still going on at the enormous rate of 13,000 or 14,000 daily. We have only 200,000 to come; they cannot be very long.