§ 62. Mr. FFRENCHasked the Under-Secretary of State for War, if he has official information to the effect that an Irish regiment fought a detachment of Germans for half the night, and after a fierce fight in which the Irishmen used the butts of their rifles and even their fists the Germans were defeated, having lost three-fourths of their numbers; and, if so, will he state the name of the regiment?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo Sir. I have not received any such information.
§ Mr. FFRENCHIs the hon. Member aware that this statement was made by a correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle"?
§ Mr. TENNANTWe have had no official information.
§ 72. Mr. COTTONasked the name of the Irish regiment which distinguished itself by the charge at the battle of Zonnebeke?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, Sir. I have no information on the subject.
§ 74. Mr. COTTONasked whether the attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to the suggestions made by the hon. Member for South Dublin to the Solicitor-General, with regard to obtaining from the commanding officer of every regiment at the front a report as to the operations of that regiment since the beginning of the War, as well as regular reports in future; and whether these reports, when obtained, will be collated and sub-edited by practical journalists and issued day by day to the Press?
§ 80. Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked if the marked gallantry of certain regiments and other units at the commencement of the War, and at such an early stage in the War as will prevent their identification now being of any possible use to the enemy, can be written up and described by trained writers in Government employment, and given to the Press for publication, so as to encourage recruiting for these regiments or units?
§ Mr. TENNANTThis matter is now under consideration, but the adoption of a proposal of this kind raises many difficulties, and I am not hopeful that they can be easily surmounted.
§ Mr. BUTCHERMay I ask whether Army Orders issued in the field commending 1310 the gallantry of particular regiments or battalions cannot be given publicity in this country?
§ Mr. TENNANTArmy Orders in the field do not reach the War Office, and they are very different from the orders issued by the Commander-in-Chief.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill steps be taken to see that these things are published?