§ MR. JOHN O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the War Department whether he is aware that the Colonel commanding the 1st Manchester Regiment, stationed in 1077 Tipperary, issued orders to the men of the regiment that they were not to partake of any refreshment in the house of John A. Carew, grocer and spirit merchant of that town; that on the 4th instant, two soldiers, having entered the premises of Mr. Carew, they were placed under arrest, stripped of their belts, and put under charge of the picket, but subsequently released because of their ignorance of the Regimental Orders; whether any charge of misconduct has ever been brought against Mr. Carew in the management of his house; and what is the reason for Mr. Carew's house being forbidden by the Military Authorities?
§ COLONEL WARING (Down, N.)May I ask whether the Order issued by the Commanding Officer in question is not strictly within his power, and whether it would be conducive to good order and discipline to interfere with his discretion in such matters?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEAs I have already stated, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Manchester Regiment did forbid his men to resort to the house of Mr. J. A. Carew in Tipperary; but I am informed that the soldiers were not arrested under the circumstances alleged in the question. In reply to the question of the hon. and gallant Member (Colonel Waring), it is within the province of any Commanding Officer to forbid any soldier from visiting any particular house in the locality if their so doing would, in his opinion, be injurious to discipline. The officer in command of the Manchester Regiment has simply exercised this power.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORWould it not be fair for the right hon. Gentleman to give me and the House some information as to the reason why this house was forbidden to the Manchester Regiment? Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider it rather a slur upon Mr. Carew as to the management of his house? Mr. Carew desires, through me, to say that he challenges any investigation with regard to his conduct. I want to know also whether the two men in question were not put under arrest by Sergeant O'Brien, and whether the right hon. Gentleman will receive affidavits or statements made by several men who were present, and who witnessed the two men being placed under arrest?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEI decline altogether to go beyond the discretion of the commanding officer. That discretion was vested in him. If the hon. Member thinks it worth while to send me affidavits I will look into them. I believe the commanding officer exercised his discretion in the matter.