64. Sir H. DALZIELasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Government accept the accuracy of the statement in the German wireless that eighteen of our aeroplanes were brought down in one day on the Western front?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Government does not accept the accuracy of this or any statement in the German wireless communiqués, nor as a matter of general policy are corrections made of misstatements in these communiqués, since obviously this would encourage the enemy to make false statements in order to elicit the truth. In the case in question the German wireless stated that the enemy lost eighteen aeroplanes on 4th March, referring apparently to the whole of the Western front, and not merely to the British front.
Sir H. DALZIELCan my hon. Friend assure us that we still maintain the mastery of the air on the Western front?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI think I can make that assurance.