§ Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for War the present strength of the British forces (Volunteer and Regular) at Hankow; when the Volunteers were formed; who is in command of the Volunteer force; by what authority the officer commanding is appointed and to whom he is responsible; whether the sanction of the Chinese Government was obtained before the incorporation of the Hankow Volunteers; and whether munitions or any other support have been given by the British War Office in the last 12 months?
§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. There are no Regular forces of the Crown stationed ashore at Hankow. The British Volunteer force at Hankow is composed of civilian Volunteers maintained and controlled by the Municipal Council of the British Concession. The council appoint the commandant from among the Volunteers. He is responsible, to the council. The British Volunteer force, like the American, French, and Japanese Volunteer forces at Hankow, has been in existence for some years past. Having been organised solely for the defence of the foreign concessions at Hankow, the question of sanction by the Chinese Government probably never arose.