Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is with his sanction that the privacy of several persons in the Bodmin district has been invaded by persons stating that they were calling, on the authority of the War Office, to investigate the capacity of horses and stables in view of a possible invasion; whether it was by his authority that a village school in this neighbourhood was thus visited; and the children informed of the purpose of the visit; and whether similar visits have been made elsewhere?
515W
§ Mr. HALDANENothing is known at the War Office of the particular matters mentioned, but it is obvious that inquiries of this character must from time to time be made throughout the country either in order to obtain information as to our resources for purposes of defence or to instruct officers in the method of moving and billeting troops.