HC Deb 07 May 1919 vol 115 cc891-3
65. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALL

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that paragraph 3 (c) of Army Order 55, of 1919, presses very harshly upon men who joined the Service in 1914 and 1915; whether under these Regulations many men are retained for the machinery of demobilisation whose positions could easily be filled by other soldiers; and whether, under the circumstances, he will amend the Order in such a way as will make it incumbent upon the military authorities to release such men, replacing them by soldiers who were brought in under the Military Service Acts?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Men who are eligible for demobilisation, but who are temporarily retained as part of the military machinery of demobilisation, are being released as rapidly as their services can be spared or they can be replaced. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Moss Side on the 1st instant, to the effect that senior officers have been appointed to inspect unit registers with a view to ensuring that no officer or man who is eligible for demobilisation is being retained without good and sufficient cause.

Sir F. HALL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I personally brought before the War Office by letter many cases in which men are practically doing no work at all and yet have been returned to their units and cannot be demobilised because it is stated that other men cannot be found to take their place? Will the right hon. Gentleman give the matter his personal attention?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I will. But may I point out that demobilisation is going on at the rate of nearly 10,000 a day.

Sir F. HALL

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that in many of these cases the men can be replaced by those who joined in 1917 and 1918?

An HON. MEMBER

These are men who are eligible for demobilisation whom it is desired to keep till April, 1920. Will the right hon. Gentleman look into those cases if I send particulars?

Mr. CHURCHILL

By law these men can be retained until 30th April, 1920, under an Army Order, which I have explained to the House, to which we are adhering. But those men who are not retainable are being demobilised as quickly as possible.

Mr. RUPERT GWYNNE

What is being done to find substitutes for these men.

Mr. CHURCHILL

There are men in the Army in India and Egypt—

Mr. DEVLIN

And in Ireland.

Mr. CHURCHILL

And in Ireland. But there are no two places where military forces are more needed at the present time than India and Egypt, and over two-thirds of the forces there are men who ought to be relieved. We are endeavouring with the utmost speed to form units to send out to relieve them.

Sir C. HENRY

Are the men in France in the retainable category?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Yes, a lot of them.

Mr. DEVLIN

Can the right hon. Gentleman—

Mr. SPEAKER

There are many more questions on the Paper, and we must get on with them.