HC Deb 20 April 1915 vol 71 cc181-2
67. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will issue a statement giving the names of the general officers commanding Army corps, divisions, and brigades at the front, in order that His Majesty's subjects may be enabled to follow the movements of their Army?

Mr. TENNANT

I realise that such a statement would be of interest, but my Noble Friend the Secretary of State is quite clear that military considerations require that information on these matters should be kept from the enemy.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

Would not the right hon. Gentleman represent to my Noble Friend that the bulk of these names can be picked out of the various Press reports, and as there are only very few which have not been given, would not it be better to give them, seeing that the enemy have learned all of them from the public Press?

Mr. TENNANT

I congratulate the hon. gentleman on his knowledge of the enemy's knowledge. Our knowledge of the enemy's formation and corps commanders is only picked up in the same way. It is an exceedingly difficult thing to do, and we wish to make it still more difficult for the enemy to pick up ours.