§ 11. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are being made for the leave and/or relief of the troops sent to China in the Shanghai expeditionary force; and whether any arrangements have been made, or are in contemplation, to enable the wives and families of officers and of soldiers married on the strength to join their husbands in China?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIt has already been arranged that units of the Shanghai Defence Force shall be relieved next trooping season: in the case of individuals of the staff and departmental branches whose longer retention may be necessary in the public interest, arrangements will be made for enabling their families to join them.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman tell me what is the greatest time that the units, apart from the special categories to which he refers, will have spent in China?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI hope that all the units of the Shanghai Defence Force will he relieved in the next trooping season.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHow long does that mean that they will have spent in China, and does "relieved" mean that they will be brought home or be sent to India or some other station?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI will answer in regard to any specific unit 2024 about which the hon. and gallant Gentleman likes to ask me, but, broadly speaking, it means that they will be brought home. I will not say, of course, that some of them will not go to some other station.