§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of a desire among officers and men to know approximately how long they will be liable to serve overseas in the event of the war continuing for some years; and whether he will make an announcement indicating what this period of overseas service will be before return to this country?
§ Sir J. GriggI am aware that there are many officers and men who have been abroad for a long time and that some have been abroad since before the war. Everything possible has been done to bring them home. Under the arrangements now in force most officers and men who have been overseas for six years should return home by the end of this year and I hope that it will before very long be possible to reduce the qualifying period to five years. Whether this period can be still further reduced later depends on the course of military operations, and the geographical distribution of our Forces.