§ Mr. DENISON-PENDERasked the Secretary of State for War whether improvements can be made in the arrangements for bringing home soldiers who have been demobilised in France and to shorten the time taken or the journey which at the present time takes at least a week?
Captain GUESTAt present the difficulties of transportation in France and Belgium are very great, but every effort is being made to effect improvements. In some instances the train journey overseas, under existing circumstances, takes five days, and in such cases it is conceivable that at least a week would be occupied in reaching the Dispersal Station in this country. These, however, are extreme instances, but in other cases the journey is much shorter and many men have been demobilised in this country and proceeded to their homes on the same day that they left, their units in France.
§ Sir PHILIP PILDITCHasked the Secretary of State for War whether the hardships to which many of our troops are being subjected on their journey home from France, which are causing illness amongst officers and men, can be remedied?
Captain GUESTThe military authorities are fully alive to the discomforts which the men have to endure on the long and slow railway journeys, and endea-582W vours are being made to improve conditions. Only one case has been brought to the notice of the War Office where a soldier has fallen ill on the journey owing to the hardships.