§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)On behalf of the hon. Member for Morpeth, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether, when martial law was proclaimed in Cape Town on the 9th of October last, any acts of war had taken place near that city; and, if so, can he state within what distance and where; whether he is aware that on that day the private house of Mrs. Koopman, and the professional offices of Messrs. Sauer and Standen, and of Messrs. Van der Byl and Van der Horst were taken possession of, and searched by soldiers or detectives; is he aware of the position of Mrs. Koopman, who is a widow lady in Cape Town, and of Messrs. Sauer and Standen and Messrs. Van der Byl and Van der Horst who are solicitors there; whether the house of Mrs. Koopman is still watched by detectives; whether any incriminating documents were found either in her 1313 house or in the offices of the gentlemen named; if not, whether he will say upon what ground and by whose orders these British subjects were subjected to this treatment?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordMartial law was declared in the Cape ports to prevent assistance being given to the enemy through the medium of those ports and the landing of undesirable persons. The offices of Messrs. Van der Byl and Van der Horst were searched as stated, and certain documents were discovered. I have no information about the other points raised in the Question.