§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has any official information to the effect that General Rundle, during his recent march through the north-western portion of the Orange Free State, blew up all the mills in the district, destroyed ovens, ploughs, and other implements for the preparation of food stuffs; and if so, whether such proceedings have the sanction of the Government as being in accordance with the customs recognised by The Hague Convention of civilised war.
§ The following Questions also appeared on the Paper:—
§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has received any report from General Rundle on his expedition in the triangle between Ficksburg, Bethlehem, and Witjies Hoel, and as to the blowing up of the mills in the district, and the destruction of the ovens, ploughs, and other implements for the preparation of foodstuff's; and if not, whether he will inquire of Lord Kitchener concerning these matters.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.E.)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether a despatch or other communication respecting the operations of the troops under the command of General Rundle, General Campbell, and Colonel Harley during the past few weeks has been received; can he state what number of Boers were killed or wounded, and what is the proportion of wounded to killed; and whether the mills in the district were blown up, and ovens, ploughs, and other implements broken; and, if so, is this destruction of fixed and movable property which is of no military value in accord with the usages of warfare recognised by The Hague Convention.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)In reply to this and similar questions put by the hon. Members for Northampton and North Cork, no 263 official Report has been received as to the facts alleged. They would involve no breach of The Hague Convention, which expressly allows the destruction and seizure of an enemy's property if imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.
§ *MR. BRODRICKAnything which is likely to enable the enemy to obtain supplies in order to carry on the war comes under The Hague Convention.
§ MR. DILLONWill the right hon. Gentleman hold that the poisoning of wells comes under the same rule?
§ MR. LABOUCHEREWhat about the natives in the places which have been destroyed?
§ *MR. BRODRICKI cannot say what the procedure is, but Lord Kitchener has done all he can to see that the natives are duly protected and kept from starvation. It is absolutely impossible in a war continuing in the way which this war is to avoid the destruction of supplies that would be useful to the enemy.