Captain COOTEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that numbers of men have been placed on draft orders for Egypt who are unwilling to remain in the Army longer than they are compelled to do; that this will mean an absence from eighteen months to two years at least; and whether ho will consider the advisability of sending to Egypt only such men as are willing to re-engage or, failing this, men who were called up in 1917 and 1918 only?
§ Mr. FORSTERWith the exception of soldiers serving on normal engagements, only such men as by their age and service are eligible for compulsory retention in the Army are being sent to Egypt, and these will in due course be relieved by units of the Regular Army as these are reformed. The period of service of the men referred to should, as a general rule, therefore be considerably less than eighteen months.