§ MR. McCARTANI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether he will make inquiry into the case of John Perry and Joseph Bloomer of the Antrim Artillery, and Patrick Brougham of the third battalion Royal Irish Rifles, who were on the 17th instant charged with desertion at the Belfast Police Court; whether the desertion consisted in having gone home on leave on the previous Sunday and having through inability to return in the meantime, remained over till Tuesday evening when they were arrested; whether the constabulary had to communicate with the War Office, the War Office with the depôt at Belfast, and the Belfast authorities with the regiments at Antrim and Newtownards, and owing to this circuitous routine these men had to be remanded to gaol for eight days, when an escort will fetch them to their regiments as military offenders; whether he is aware that the magistrates in Belfast have frequently spoken against the hardship at committing such offenders to gaol for such a long period without trial when greater expedition might easily be arranged for by the War Office; and, whether he will consider the desirability of using the telegraph in order to have the escorts in attendance in such cases without unnecessary delay?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThese three Militiamen were arrested in uniform and admitted that they were absentees, and as there was no reasonable doubt of the truth of such admission, it was open to the magistrates to deliver them into military custody. In their discretion the Belfast Magistrates gave a remand for a longer period than was necessary, but no remarks on the subject by them have been brought to the notice of the War Office. The telegraph is used in cases when by doing so it is possible to avoid delay.