§ 4. Captain LOSEBYasked the Secretary of State for India whether he was aware that, in answer to a question in the douse of Commons on 1st August, 1916, the then Secretary of State for India stated that Major-General Shaw had been dismissed from his post as General Officer Commanding Karachi on the grounds that he was partly responsible for the Karachi troop-train episode in that as General Officer commanding Karachi he was responsible for the railway arrangements; that he took no steps nor gave any orders to see that the safety or comforts of the troops were provided for; and that the train was allowed to leave Karachi without experienced officers either medical or combatant; was he aware that each and every one of these statements is denied by Major-General Shaw; would he say if, in the light of subsequent information, the statement, then given, accurately and in detail, stated the reasons for the dismissal of Major-General Shaw; had any of these charges been substantiated; and, if not, what in detail were the acts of omission and commission on account of which Major-General Shaw remained in compulsory retirement?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answers I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Bury St. Edmunds on 9th July, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Captain LOSEBYWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether he now has any 1285 information which will enable him to inform this House as to whether the charges specifically alleged against Major-General Shaw are correct or incorrect?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIf my hon. and gallant Friend will look at the answer to which I have referred he will see that I cannot undertake to revise the findings of the Committee of Inquiry, but I gave Major-General Shaw the opportunity of a new inquiry in order that he might claim satisfaction if the inquiry resulted in that way, and Major-General Slaw refused it.