§ 21 Mr. MORRELLasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether the form of punishment known as "crucifixion" is inflicted upon soldiers training in this country as well as upon soldiers on 144 active service; (2) if he has yet obtained particulars of the circumstances under which twelve men were recently sentenced to field punishment No. 1, and one of them died in consequence of the punishment, as mentioned in a statement made by General Childs, the Director of Personal Service; for what offences these men were punished; and (3) whether he has yet obtained a report with regard to that form of field punishment which is known as "crucifixion"; and whether he will take steps, in view of its character, to have it abolished?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEComplete reports have not yet been received. As I stated on 21st November, I do not think it would serve any useful purpose to-discuss the question until the replies have been received.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us when the replies are likely to-be received, and, considering the fact that this punishment does in many cases amount to torture, will he see that it is discontinued until full investigation has been made?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIt is perfectly true that in certain conditions it might be. It depends entirely on how it is administered. It might be administered in such a way as to be very cruel torture. When properly administered, as it is in the vast majority of cases—I doubt if there are any exceptions I do not think that it is torture; but I am looking into the matter and I am communicating not merely with the Commander-in-Chief, but with other parties, to find out what the discipline is in similar cases in the French and Italian Armies, and it will be some time before they can reply. I can assure my hon. Friend that I am taking a personal interest in the matter, because I quite realise that you must have some method of discipline in the Army, because an army becomes a mere mob unless you have discipline, and the best method of maintaining discipline-is a question that if well worthy of attention.
§ Captain DOUGLAS HALLIs it not a fact that the chief punishment is the ridicule, the justifiable ridicule, of the other men?
§ Commander WEDGWOODIs it not a fact that a degrading punishment loses its-usefulness?
§ Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKWould not the best way of maintaining discipline be for the military authorities to provide a proper detention camp where the men can be kept?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI am afraid that in many cases that would be an encouragement rather than a deterrent. There are other methods in the French Army which are well worth examination as to whether they are not more effective. They are worth looking into, and that is what I am doing at the present moment.