§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE (Bristol, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty a Question of which I have given private notice—whether it is the fact that a force of British sailors and Marines has attacked and captured Fort Illig in Italian Somaliland with the concurrence but without the help of the Italian men-of-war who were spectators of the action: for what reason was the attack made, and if made to destroy the power of the Mullah who is now located in Italian territory, whether the attack ought not to have been left to the Italians.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe latter part of the Question is a matter of opinion; but the first part is in order.
§ * MR. PRETYMANThe facts are as stated in the earlier part of the hon. Members Question, but as to the remaining part I am not in a position to answer it, as I have only received the Question to-day. I sent the Question to my right hon. friend the Secretary for War, to whom it would be more properly addressed, but it did not reach him in time. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will give notice of the Question.