§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a military band played in front of the procession in which Commander Scheepers was brought to execution, while the firing party followed behind; that Commander Scheepers, who was suffering from a painful internal malady, was brought to the place of execution in an ambulance; that his request to be allowed to stand up and face death was refused; and that he was tied down in a chair and blindfolded, when a firing party of fifteen who were standing at ten paces from him, fired at him, while subsequently the chair to which he was tied down was broken and the pieces thrown into his grave; and whether these proceed- 711 ings or any of them had the previous sanction or subsequent ratification of Lord Kitchener.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordI have no information on any of the circumstances alluded to. Perhaps the hon. Member will furnish me with his authority for the statements.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI shall do nothing of the kind, although I believe them to be perfectly true.
§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)Will the right hon. Gentleman send out to South Africa to ascertain the truth, in order to vindicate the honour of the British Army?
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLJust one word, Mr. Speaker. Scheepers was executed some time ago, and why are the Government unable to give us this information?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member must not make a speech.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLNo, Sir; I was asking a question, and I cannot get an answer.