§ 9. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Secretary of State for War what have been the numbers of the Shanghai Defence Force from the commencement of the expedition to the present time; and what has been the cost to the country each month up to the latest date available?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSAs the answer is somewhat long, I will, with the right hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ In December, 1926, one battalion proceeded from Gibraltar to China and on 25th January, 1927, a Royal Marine battalion left England for China. Both these battalions were subsequently attached to 206 the Shanghai Defence Force. In January, 1927, the Shanghai Defence Force was despatched, comprising eight infantry battalions and ancillary troops from England and the Colonies and four infantry battalions and ancillary troops from India. In April, 1927, the 15th Brigade of four infantry battalions with ancillary troops proceded from England to China. In June, 1927, two of the battalions which went out with the Shanghai Defence Force were detached from the Force for Tientsin and Wei-hai-wei respectively. The four battalions and ancillary troops from India are now under orders to return to India. It is not possible to allocate month by month the expenditure on the troops sent to China. But the extra cost to Army funds of the troops referred to above (excluding the Marine battalion, the cost of which is borne on naval funds) is estimated as follows: Up to 31st March, 1927, as provided in the Supplementary Estimate for 1926, £950,000. Subsequent to 31st March, 1927, for capital and transport charges payable in 1927—approximately £1,000,000. and for extra maintenance charges—approximately £250,000 a month.