§ 26. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, at a recent gathering in London, a disclosure was made of the total of the British forces in the field and a proportionate estimate given of the Russian forces in the field; and can he say whether this information was supplied by the War Office to Lord Northcliffe?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have consulted the Army Council, and I am in a position to say that, whatever information was disclosed at the gathering referred to, was not given by the War Office.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEDo these disclosures made constitute a breach of the Defence of the Realm Act?
§ Mr. FORSTERThat does not arise out of this question.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I have provided the Secretary of State for War with the figures disclosed by Lord Northcliffe and provided by a person present, and does the War Office attach no importance to the disclosure of these sensational facts?
§ Mr. FORSTERI was not aware that the hon. Gentleman did inform the War Office.