§ Captain CARR-GOMMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the desirability of transferring to other fronts those officers and men of the Salonika force who have been in Macedonia for some considerable time and whose health has suffered from that climate, and of filling their places with officers and men who have not yet been in the country?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe relief of officers and men who have been subjected for long periods to exceptional46W strain in a theatre of war or have served in an unhealthy climate has always been a matter for careful consideration, and such action as is possible has been taken in this respect. The restricted amount of transport available necessitates the transfer of troops from one theatre of war to another being reduced to an absolute minimum, and it is impracticable to introduce any wholesale scheme of relief. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that all reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that no officer or man is unavoidably retained in Macedonia if his health will be permanently impaired thereby.
§ Captain CARR-GOMMasked whether there is at present any prospect of a larger number of officers and men of the Salonika Army being allowed home on leave: and whether the rule that any officer or man of that force who has been to a hospital out of the country on account of wounds or sickness must count that as leave is to be continued?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe grant of leave of absence to officers and men of the force in Salonika rests in the discretion of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, who I am sure gives it the most sympathetic consideration possible subject to transport facilities and the exigencies of the military situation. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will let me know what case he has in mind with regard to the last part of the question.