§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether, about the 1st December last, the judicial duties of the Military district commandants in the Cape Colony were transferred to the Colonial magistrates and civil commissioners of the districts; whether the trial of the Boer Commandant Krietzinger is proceeding before a tribunal composed of such magistrates or before one composed of Military officers; and, if of Military officers, of how many; whether Commandant Krietzinger is being tried on capital charges; and, if so, whether, in the event of his being found guilty, the proceedings will, as advised by the Prime 1094 Minister and the Attorney General of the Cape Colony, be submitted to a competent legal adviser on Lord Kitchener's staff before the sentence is carried out; and whether the recommendations of that legal adviser will be followed.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe Military District Commandant is the supreme authority in all districts under Martial Law. The civil legal officials are being utilised, as far as practicable, under his orders for dealing judicially with ordinary offences against civil law. The trial of Commandant Krietzinger for certain capital offences which are a violation of the laws of war will be conducted by a Military Court composed of not less than three officers. In the event of his being found guilty sentence if involving death or penal servitude will, as in other similar cases, be reviewed first by the Deputy Judge Advocate General, and secondly by Sir R. Solomon. The proceedings with their opinions are then submitted to Lord Kitchener.