§ MR. GALLOWAY (Manchester, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that two men charged with desertion from the 18th Hussars were marched through the public streets handcuffed together on Tuesday morning, 11th of June, in charge of a corporal and a private, and that these alleged deserters had been handed over by the police authorities at Marlborough Street Police Court for the purpose of being tried by the military authorities at Canterbury; and, seeing that these two alleged deserters, assumed to be innocent in the eyes of the law, were followed through the streets by a mob, whether he will, in the public interest, take steps that in future men charged with desertion should not be so treated by the military authorities.
§ *MR. BRODRICKThe facts are as stated in the question, except that nothing is known at the War Office as to the mob. The procedure is contrary to the King's Regulations, and attention has been called to the error.
§ MR. GALLOWAYCould not the War Office set apart a certain sum of money to enable the men to be conveyed in cabs?
§ *MR. BRODRICKI have said that what was done was contrary to the King's Regulations.