§ 5. Mr. HOGGEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is able to give the casualties for the first complete year of the War; and whether the War Office have yet determined any means by which further casualties shall be announced at regular intervals instead of being elicited at irregular intervals by question and answer?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe practice which has been indicated as desirable in regard to statements of total casualties has been to give them from time to time when the exigencies of the military situation permit, and not at regular intervals. There are still objections to making periodical announcements of the aggregate casualties; and my Noble Friend considers it desirable that discretion should be reserved to the Government as to when such statements may be made. Subject to the above remark, I may inform the House that the total casualties for the first year of the War—i.e., up to 21st August—are as follows:—
Officers. Other Ranks. Killed; Died of Wounds, etc. 4,965 70,992 Wounded 9,973 241,086 Missing 1,501 53,466 16,439 365,544 Total 381,983
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSCan the right hon. Gentleman differentiate between the Expeditionary Force in the Mediterranean and the Army on the Continent?
§ Mr. TENNANTI cannot at the moment.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSI will put a question down.