§ 71 and 72. Mr. HURDasked the Secretary of State for War (1) what steps are now possible to carry out the promise given by the late Lord Kitchener, through Major- 1749 General Donald, on 24th September, 1914, when he was asking the Wessex Division to go to the East, namely, that by going to India they would not be the losers, that they would share all the honours of the War, and might regard it as a guarantee that the Wessex Division would be brought back home before the end of the War so that the men might resume their employment or get fresh employment before the great rush took place from the Colours when the War was over; and (2) whether he is aware that, with few exceptions, neither officers nor men of the l/4th Somerset Light Infantry, who were sent to Mesopotamia in February, 1916, have had any home leave since October, 1914, whereas men with shorter service on the Western Front have had frequent leaves, and many have now been demobilised; and what steps, consistent with the public interest, he can now take to alleviate the sense of hardship which this inequality of treatment has created among the men and in the Somerset community?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIn answer to this and the next question, I would refer to the full statement which was made yesterday in reply to questions on the subject put by my right hon. Friend the Member for South Molton and my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnor.
§ Mr. HURDWill the right hon. Gentleman give me an answer to the last part of question 72, which is not covered by yesterday's statement, namely, what steps are possible to alleviate this sense of hardship with regard to the inequality of treatment?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLA complete understanding of the New Army scheme and the effort on the part of the authorities to demobilise those men who should under that scheme be demobilised at the earliest possible moment.