§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the statements that have appeared in the public Press, referring to a general court-martial lately held at Chatham on an officer of the 2nd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment; whether the conduct of the Commanding Officer and the Adjutant of that Regiment, in connection with the case tried, is in any way deserving of censure; and, whether it is true, as stated in the papers, that the condition of this Battalion is eminently unsatisfactory?
§ THE SECRETARY or STATE (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)My attention has been called to the statements referred to. I do not consider, in connection with this case, that the conduct of either the Commanding Officer or the Adjutant is deserving of censure, nor is the battalion in an unsatisfactory condition.