§ 46. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the frequent official statements that the German estimates of British losses on the Somme are grossly exaggerated, he will deprive the enemy of this source of encouragement by stating the total of the British casualties to date?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe hon. Member will, on reflection, I think, see that the object of the Germans in publishing exaggerations is to provoke a contradiction and thus obtain exact official information. The course the hon. Member suggests would therefore play directly into their hands, and with this fuller knowledge of what is involved I am sure he will not press his suggestion.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIn view of the fact that the Germans admit a casualty list of over 3,000,000, is there any reason why the total should not be given when day by day the numbers are given? Is it not because they do not wish people here to realise the cost of a fight to a finish?