MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has now any information as to a native having been arrested in Berbera in December last on suspicion of being a spy of the Mullah, who denied the charge, but eventually, under punishment, confessed that he was a spy; and whether he can say if the punishment was inflicted for the purpose of obtaining the confession, what was the nature of the punishment, and by whose orders it was inflicted.
§ MR. BRODRICKOn inquiry General Manning stated, on 27th December last, that there was no foundation whatever for the statement made in the Question as to the punishment of the spy, but that the Press message to which the 683 hon. Member evidently alludes should have read as follows: "Prisoner confessed that, under threat of punishment, he was employed by the Mullah as a spy."
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWhere is the Mullah now?