§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has any official information to the effect that at Spion Kop, in December last, the bodies of the British soldiers who had fallen in the Spion Kop battle were then scarcely covered, that it was possible in many cases to see the limbs of men who had been buried in this way, and that in other cases the movement of stones would expose the whole body.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, WesthoughtonNo, Sir. I have no information to this effect, but as this is a question which interests a good many people, perhaps I may say that of course at first the bodies were hastily buried, but after the relief of Ladysmith Sir Redvers Buller sent out an officer and party especially to properly bury all the bodies. This officer is now in England, and reports that the work was thoroughly carried out. I was personally over the whole ground in the first week in December, and, as I have told the hon. Member, I believe there was absolutely nothing that would give rise to the idea as to the bodies being improperly buried. I have since seen General Ian Hamilton and another officer, and asked them for their impressions, which coincide with mine. Having therefore been over the ground, I can say that there is no reason for saying that the bodies are improperly buried.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWill the noble Lord permit me to lay before him the diary of James Marshall, taken on the spot, and written on December 9, on which I base my information? I believe he says what is true.
§ LORD STANLEYThe hon. Member may believe what the gentleman says, but I cannot help believing my own eyes.