Mr. T. WILSONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in the event of the soldier's demobilisation papers being forwarded to the men's unit, it is still within the discretion of the commanding officer as to whether the man should be released or not; and whether he is aware that numbers of soldiers for whose demobilisation application has been made and endorsed are not being released accordingly?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLOfficers and soldiers detailed for release as demobilisers or pivotal men will be retained for military duties only under the written authority of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief concerned, and for the most exceptional reasons. Officers and soldiers for whom release slips have been received will not be retained beyond the time when they should be included in a party for dispersal without the written approval of an officer not below the status of a brigade commander. It is not within the discretion of a commanding officer to refuse to release a man whose demobilisation has been ordered. I am not aware of any cases of soldiers not having been released whose demobilisation has been ordered, but if the hon. Member will state a specific case, inquiries will be made. The terms of the recent Army Order forming the Armies of Occupation will of course affect the cases of men whose release slips have been received, but not those of pivotal men (received by the War Office before 1st February, 1919) nor of releases on extreme compassionate grounds