§ 52. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Prime Minister whether the excess of British casualties on the Western Front during the last nine months over those sustained by the French Forces is due to the action taken by the Chamber of Deputies after the failure of the French offensive in April last, when the Minister of War was forced publicly to promise that the French Army would stand on the defensive until American reinforcements arrived; and can he state why no similar provision was made for the conservation of British man-power?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThis is a question to which, in view of the statements which have repeatedly been made on the general military position, I do not think it right to give any answer.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITECan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that steps will be taken to conserve British manpower on the Western front similar to those taken by the French Government with such success?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think the only possible answer to that is that if the men in command of our Armies did not to the fullest extent possible attempt to save life they ought not to be there, and if the Government did not insist on them doing so the Government ought not to be there.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs it not the fact that we lost something like half a million more men than the French last year, and does not that in itself show the necessity of some inquiry as to the methods of our command?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt is obvious that if I had the figures in my head I would not give them, but, apart from that, anyone who has considered military operations must realise that there may be occasions when one branch of the Army is fighting more severely than another branch, and that it is right that it should do so.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIn view of the statement made by the Minister of National Service 1558 in introducing the Military Service Bill, does not the right hon. Gentleman see that it is important to have an authoritative statement from the Government on this subject of casualties?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWe had as authoritative a statement as could be given. The Government fully realise the necessity, not merely from the humanitarian porn: of view, but from the point of view of winning the War and afterwards, of conserving our man-power to the utmost possible limit.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs it not the fact that French papers have frequently pointed out the excessive losses suffered by our troops?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman has no responsibility for that.