§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War what course it is proposed to take with reference to any incidents in the campaign in South Africa involving either an excessive loss of life or the surrender of considerable bodies of Her Majesty's troops as prisoners of war, in the absence of the regular machinery working automatically in the Royal Navy, whereby officers in command are able to prove before a court martial that their dispositions were perfectly correct, and 1236 that all possible precaution had been taken to ensure success.
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY FOB WAR (Mr. WYNDHAM, Dover)Under the Queen's Regulations a Court of Inquiry is held to investigate the circumstances under which any officer or soldier has been made prisoner of war. This takes place as soon as possible after he has returned to duty. The question whether operations in the field have been properly conducted is decided in the first instance by the Commander-in-Chief in the theatre of war.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTDo I understand that these inquiries will be held?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMIt is laid down in the Queen's Regulations that an inquiry shall be held in every case in which an officer or soldier is taken prisoner.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThey are not held until the prisoner is recovered, at the end of the war.