§ Major ENTWISTLEasked the Secretary of state for War on what date troops in India, who are on demobilisation from Mesopotamia, will embark for England; whether some of these troops were ordered at the beginning of last month to proceed to the frontier and refused, and tile order was cancelled; and whether any of these troops have been sent to the frontier unless they volunteered?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt has already, been stated in this House that the men who arrived in India from Mesopotamia will be amongst the first to be demobilised when the reinforcements arrive, and that the reinforcements are now commencing to arrive. I may add that 1,000 of these men started on their journey home at the end of last month; the remainder will be released as soon as reinforcements arrive. I regret that under the circumstances it is impossible for me to forecast a definite date by when all these men will have embarked for the United Kingdom, but, as stated in the Memorandum published recently, the whole of the demobilisable personnel in India will have started for home by 1st December, if not released earlier, providing no unexpected trouble occurs. The last two parts of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India.