§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War what explanation, if any, has the War Office to give for the circumstances that the death of Sergeant G. French, of the Royal Warwick Regiment, which occurred at Bloemfontein on 26th May, and the death in the same place of Private Martin, of the same regiment, on 31st May, were not published by the War Office till 12th July; and can he say why have the families of these two soldiers, who died presumably in hospital at Pretoria, not been apprised of their deaths for nearly two months.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThe information was not received by the War Office until Sunday, the 8th July, and after the usual verification was published on the 10th July.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLHas the hon. Gentleman any reason to give for the long delay?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThe hon. Member must be aware that it is only by means of a very elaborate system of triplicate returns that we are able to get the information we do at such an early date.