§ 18. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary for War whether he can make any statement with regard to the members of the British military, railway, and other missions recently in Siberia; are any of these British subjects known to have been captured by Red forces; and, if so, will any steps be taken at Vladivostock or elsewhere in the Far East to negotiate for their exchange?
19. Lieut.-Colonel W. GUINNESSasked the Secretary for War whether he can give any information as to the alleged murder by the Bolshevists of certain British officers who were captured with Admiral Koltchak?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe British Military Mission, including the Railway Mission, now numbers 50 officers and 67 other ranks. It is being withdrawn at an early date, and preliminary arrangements are already in progress.
Twelve officers and six other ranks are known to have fallen into the hands of the Bolsheviks. A report states that four of these officers have been shot by the Bolsheviks, but this has not yet been confirmed. According to a Bolshevik report the remainder were alive and well about the middle of February, but no later news has been received. Negotiations for their exchange are in progress.
With regard to the question by the hon. and gallant Member for Bury St. Edmunds, no British officers or men were killed by the Bolsheviks at the same time as Admiral Koltchak. A British officer was present at Irkutsk at the time, and his report on the death of the Admiral makes no mention of any such occurrence.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSIs the right hon. Gentleman taking steps to get farther information about the fate of the 1091 four officers alleged to have been shot, and will he try to get some redress for their fate?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's statement that these missions are being withdrawn, is there any truth in the report in the "Times" to-day that two of these officers have gone to Chetah and joined up with General Seminoff? Is that in accordance with the policy just announced?
§ 27. Mr. CAPEasked the number of casualties suffered to date by the officers and men of the British military mission with General Denikin?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe information asked for is as follows:—
Officers.—Died of sickness, four; missing, three (one believed captured by Green Guards; two, according to Russian report, captured by Bolsheviks at Rostov and murdered); wounded, one.
Other ranks.—Died of wounds, one; died of sickness, sixteen; missing, one (believed captured by Green Guards).
§ Brigadier-General CROFTCan the right hon. Gentleman give the names of the missing officers?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not the names here now.