Captain COOTEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the period for which it is likely to prove necessary to maintain British troops at Batoum; and whether it is a fact that the 9th South Lancashire Regiment has received orders to proceed from Chanak to that place?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs I stated in my reply to a similar question on the 4th instant, the small force at Batoum is remaining there at the request of the Foreign Office. It will be withdrawn as soon as it is considered possible to do so without causing an outbreak of serious disturbances. The answer to the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is in the negative.