§ MR. PLATT-HIGGINS (Salford, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he can state the number of 1063 officers and men who have been killed or wounded since the commencement of the war through the display by the enemy of a flag of truce; if not, whether there would be any objection to calling for such a Return.
§ MR. LUCAS-SHADWELL (Hastings)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he would call for a Return stating the number of officers and men who have been killed and wounded in the recent actions in South Africa after the display by the Boers of the white flag; and whether any officers or men have been taken prisoners under these circumstances.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverI will reply to these questions together. I am afraid that it would not be possible to prepare such a Return. In saying that I throw no doubt upon the established fact that many officers and men have lost their lives or their freedom through this practice, but it would be impossible to prove individual cases without something in the nature of a judicial inquiry that is quite beyond our power.