§ Sir G. TOUCHEasked the Under-secretary of State for War if he is aware that men who had been prisoners of war in Germany since 1914 and were afterwards transferred to Switzerland, where some of them received the Mons ribbon, are not allowed to receive pieces of the ribbon to replace what is soiled, or sew on other coats, and that when, in response to a request from a non-commissioned officer in Switzerland, some further pieces of ribbon were despatched, they were returned to the sender on the ground that, while it is permissible to send medal ribbons to prisoners of war, an exception is made in the case of that of the 1914 star; and will he say why this distinction is made and consider the desirability of discontinuing it?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONSupplies of the riband for the "1914 Star" for men interned in Switzerland are issued on the application of the general officer in charge of the interned. Additional supplies from other sources are deprecated, as being unnecessary and likely to lead to unauthorised issues.