§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he will state how many officers and men were captured or surrendered at Nicholson's Nek, Koorn Spruit, Reddersburg, Lindley, Roodeval, and between Roodeval and Heilbron, and how many have been released from captivity; have the courts of inquiry prescribed by the Queen's Regulations to be held by the general officer commanding to investigate the circumstances under which the capture or surrender took place been held in the case of any other officers or men who were captured or surrendered on any of these occasions; and, if so, in what instances; and have the opinions of the court as to the circumstances under which those captures or surrenders have taken place been, in accordance with the Queen's Regulations, forwarded to the War Office; and, if so, on what grounds have they been withheld from the public.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe hon. Member will find all the information which can be given in reply to the first paragraph in the published weekly report of the casualties. In reply to the remainder of the question, no detailed information as to the courts of inquiry has reached the War Office.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLHave those inquiries been held or not?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI cannot say that as a matter of fact, because I have not received the report.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLDoes the hon. Gentleman not know that the officers who have been imprisoned and released are now on active service, and is it possible without inquiry for them to be replaced on active service?
§ MR. WYNDHAMIn the absence of a report I cannot reply on the question of fact. I think it would be wasting the time of the House to indulge in speculative surmises.