§ 60. Major M. WOODasked the Chief Secretary how many men have been carried as hostages on military or police lorries; how long they were detained; how many casualties have occurred among these men; and whether he has 434 any report as to the circumstances under which the casualties, if any, took place?
§ Mr. HENRYI am unable to furnish the hon. and gallant Member with information as to the number of persons who have been carried as hostages, or as to the length of time for which they have been detained. There have been no casualties to hostages carried on military lorries, and there has been only one casualty, a case of wounding, to hostages on police lorries. An official inquiry is being held into the circumstances in which this casualty occurred.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it the official policy to carry civilians as hostages in these lorries, and is not that against all the laws of war?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs this the official policy? Has this the approval of the right hon. and learned Gentleman's Department?
§ Major WOODIs there any record kept of the number of hostages carried in lorries, and, if not, does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman think there ought to be a record, or is any police officer entitled to take any Sinn Feiner or anyone and put him on a lorry whenever he likes?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKWill the Government abandon a policy which is both useless and barbarous?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIt is scandalous—like the Germans.