§ Sir J. JARDINEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is in a position to make any statement about a recent attack made by the Turks on the town of Kerbela, in Mesopotamia, or the holy places there which the Shia Moslems hold in reverence?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 6th July regarding the disturbance at Kerbela and subsequent fighting between the Arab population and Turkish troops. No news of further disturbance in this area has been received.
§ Major ASTORasked (1) if sick and wounded soldiers arriving at Wellington and other small stations in the Nilgiri Hills lately from Mesopotamia found no 409W mattresses or pillows on their iron beds, and had nothing to lie on hut coir; whether there was insufficient underclothing and no stock of either clothes or utensils; and whether the supply of drugs was inadequate for many days; and (2) whether, owing to practically no provision having been made for receiving wounded and sick soldiers at Wellington and other smaller stations in the Nilgiri Hills lately, it has been necessary for charitably disposed people in Calcutta to collect money and goods to relieve the situation?
Mr. ROBERTSLast August my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India, on receiving accounts of deficiencies in the equipment of certain military hospitals in Madras, telegraphed to the Government of India for a report. As regards Coonoor, the Viceroy replied that there had been small defects of a temporary character, but that these had been promptly remedied, and that the G.O.C. of the Division, in the course of frequent visits, found the invalids contented and happy. As regards Wellington, the Viceroy was satisfied by an exhaustive inspection carried out by the G.O.C., in company with the Governor of Madras, that there were nothing more than inconveniences of a temporary character, which were quickly dealt with. The Viceroy added that there was no dearth of comforts or stores, and that private relief was merely supplementing official resources.