HC Deb 27 July 1916 vol 84 cc1842-3
11. Sir E.CORNWALL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British prisoners, including those engaged in the Dardanelles campaign, 'are, so far as is known, now in the hand of the Turks?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)

So far as is known, the total number of prisoners now in the hands of the Turks is approximately 600 officers and 8,370 other ranks. These figures include native Indians and Egyptians in addition to British officers and soldiers and officers and soldiers from the Dominions.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Is there any possibility of there being prisoners in the hands of the Turks, captured at the Dardanelles, whose names have not been received by the Government?

Mr. FORSTER

I said in reply to a question yesterday that we were doing everything we could to check the names of British officers and men in the hands of the Turks who were taken at Gallipoli.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Is there any possibility that there are still men in the hands of the Turks whose names have not been received 2

Mr. FORSTER

There is, of course, always a possibility of there being men whose names have not been received. We are doing our best and exhausting every means to get the most accurate information.

Forward to