31. Mr. DOYLEasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the persistent reports that Germany possesses a secret army of over 1,000,000 men, well officered and drilled, and to the repeated discoveries of stores of hidden arms and war stores; what part the British military forces have taken to unearth such hidden munitions, &c.; and what steps the Supreme Council propose to take to put a stop to such a dangerous state of things?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Lieut.-Colonel Sir R. Sanders)I have been asked to answer this question. I am aware of the reports referred to, but while there are naturally in Germany at present many more than 1,000,000 men trained as soldiers, it is safe to say that she does not possess artillery armament and equipment for a modern army of a million, and could not put any such army in the field. The quantities of hidden arms and stores which have been discovered are evidence of the activities of the Inter-Allied Commission of Control. No British troops other than the officers of the British Section of the Commission have been engaged on this work, which is a matter of investigation and not of the employment of military force. In regard to the last part of the question, the Supreme Council will continue to avail themselves of the services of the Commission of Control for as long as may be necessary, and this is the most effective step they can take.