§ Mr. HOUSTON (by Private Notice)asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Japanese steamer 22 "Hirano Mara" was torpedoed and sunk, with great loss of life, in the Irish Sea prior to 5th October, and can he state why the public was not informed of this outrage until Friday, 11th instant?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe "Hirano Maru" was torpedoed and sunk on 4th October, well outside the Irish Sea. As the vessel was conveying a number of South African passengers, and in order to prevent unnecessary anxiety in South African circles, details of the outrage were not released for publication until the escort vessels had returned to port and accurate details of the losses were available.