§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the discontent in the Army in Egypt owing to the continued neglect to discharge men entitled to discharge or to grant leave; whether at a meeting of some 2,000 soldiers held on 11th May at the Casino, Bellevue, Alexandria, demanding demobilisation, it was alleged that there are in Egypt men mobilised on 4th August, 1914, who have never had leave to the United Kingdom, that men who enlisted in 1914 and 1915 have never had leave to the United Kingdom, and also Derby scheme men are in the same position; whether the latest proposal to return 5,400 each month will mean that it will take twelve months before all who are eligible are brought home; what number have been brought home from Egypt since the Armistice altogether, and how he proposes to allay the prevailing unrest?
§ Mr. FORSTERReports have been received from time to time that a certain amount of discontent existed during the period in which demobilisation was suspended on account of local unrest. I have no knowledge of a meeting of soldiers held at Alexandria on 11th May. Fresh instructions have recently been issued providing for the release with all possible dispatch of all men who are eligible under Army Order 55. With regard to the last part of the question, up to the 25th June, 2,685 officers and 77,585 other ranks from Egypt have been demobilised since the Armistice.