§ Mr. CHURCHILL (by Private Notice)I wish to ask the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the casualty list appearing in this morning's papers contained the names of sixty-three officers killed or missing, and of this total for the whole of the Army no fewer than thirty-one are aviators of the Royal Flying Corps; and whether any explanation can be given of this remarkable disproportion?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)I received notice of this question only a few minutes ago, and I will have inquiries made. I think that the probable explanation of the apparent disproportion is that it is a casualty return covering several days of what we know to be severe and intense fighting by the Royal Flying Corps?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLCan my hon. Friend say whether, as a matter of fact, there has been an increase in the number of casualties among the Royal Flying Corps during the last month?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI must have notice of that question.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSEven if these figures represent a few days, will they not be far in excess of the percentages which the hon. Gentleman gave us last week?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAll I can say is that the fighting has been extremely intense during the last few days, and that the number of our Flying Corps officers employed has been greater than before.
Sir HENRY DALZIELCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the proportion of casualties at home within the last fortnight has been greater than it has ever been before?
§ Mr. BILLINGIs it not a fact that our casualties are nearly double those suffered by the enemy in the air?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI cannot admit that.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the hon. Gentleman make a clear statement as to what are our casualties?