§ Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether on 31st October, 1914, he had an interview at the War Office with the late Lord Kitchener and Brigadier-General Owen Thomas; whether at this interview, no record of which can be found at the War Office, an undertaking was given to Brigadier-General Owen Thomas that Welsh officers so far as possible should be appointed to the Welsh battalions raised under his command; whether at this interview Brigadier-General Owen Thomas, in order to promote recruiting, was authorised to give a pledge to the Welsh people on behalf of the late Lord Kitchener to this effect; and whether he is aware that the command of the seven Welsh battalions at Kinmel has recently been given to a Scotsman, formerly a lieutenant in the Regular Army, and that in numerous other cases Welshmen have been relieved of their commands despite the pledge given by the late Lord Kitchener?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo such interview ever took place. General Owen Thomas may have seen Lord Kitchener on the subject; named, but he did not mention the matter to the Under-Secretary of State. General Owen Thomas has been succeeded by Colonel Cuthbertson, who had already commanded the Monmouth Regiment in France. As regards the last part of the question, no officer has been relieved of his command except in the interests of military efficiency and on the recommendation of his superior officer.