§ 33. Mr. HURDasked the Secretary of State for War why Corporal A. G. Ruck, No. M.S./30004, Royal Army Service Corps, No. 13 General Headquarters Reserve, Mechanical Transport Company, British Expeditionary Force, and Private R. H. J. Barfoot, No. 457137, Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force), 11 bis, Rue Christophe Colombe, Paris 8, who both joined the Army in 1914, are not now released under the demobilisation scheme; whether the number of 1916, 1917, and 1918 men being retained in the Army of Occupation are sufficient for the military machinery of demobilisation under Army Order 25; and whether he will call for immediate reports from the commanders of units in the Army of Occupation to ascertain whether many 1914 and 1915 men are being unnecessarily deprived of release under the Government promise?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf the dates of these men's enlistments are as stated they would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, will no doubt be released in due course. There is no reason to believe that 199 men who are eligible for demobilisation are being unnecessarily retained, but men whose services are temporarily required for the military machinery of demobilisation are liable to retention until they can be replaced or their services dispensed with, notwithstanding their eligibility for demobilisation; every effort, however, is being made to replace men so retained as early as possible.
§ Sir E. CARSONWho decides the necessity of keeping them?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIn regard to the men who are required for the machinery of demobilisation, and in regard to those units which are required for the purposes of demobilisation, it would come from the War Office, but in individual cases, which are not covered by the general rule, the commanding officer would be the authority in the first instance.
§ Captain SPENDER CLAYDid not the right hon. Gentleman say, in giving a previous answer, that the commanding officers had no right at all?
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSCan the right hon. Gentleman give us some guide as to whom Members of Parliament should apply? Is he aware that I have written to him of nine or ten separate cases of men entitled to be demobilised within the last month, and I have not got one released yet?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAll I know is that since the beginning of the year about 2,250,000 men have been demobilised. That, to me, seems to be a prodigious thing.