§ 58. Mr. Quintin Hoggasked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that ordinary mail to troops in Italy takes up to two months; and whether he will take steps to reduce this period.
§ Sir J. GriggSurface mail to Italy took on the average 25 days in July, and 28 days in August to reach the base in Italy from the Army Postal Centre in this country. About five days should be added to these times to cover the transit to the Postal Centre, and from the base to the unit in the forward areas. These are, as I said, average times. We are trying to improve on the timings generally.