§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War why it is now necessary to retain any troops in Italy and why they cannot be brought back and demobilized?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe main line of communications for British forces in the Near East passes overland through Italy, to Taranto. Only the administrative ser- 1317W vices necessary for its maintenance are employed, and the only combatant force in this theatre is one Infantry battalion, which forms part of the Allied Force of Occupation in Fiume.