§ 24. Mr. Flemingasked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what date was the British ship "Firby" sunk by a German U-boat; and on what date did the Admiralty discover that the officer commanding the said U-boat was not in British custody?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe British ship Steamship "Firby" was sunk by a German U-boat on 11th September. As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member on nth October it was not until the captured U-boat commander was examined that it was learnt that the original assumption that he was responsible for the sinking of the "Firby" was incorrect. As soon as my right hon. Friend learnt this information he imparted it to the hon. Member in reply to his question.
§ Mr. FlemingIs my hon. Friend aware that on 30th September my right hon. Friend made the statement in this House, and that it was denied on the Deutsch-landsender by the U-boat captain in question; and surely, that statement ought to have been verified and to have been admitted to be wrong in public before now?
§ Mr. ShakespeareIf the hon. Gentleman had been here last week to hear the answer to the question, that point might have been cleared up. My right hon. Friend stated that he had grounds for making the statement which he did in the first place. That information was supplied to him on 856 competent authority, and it was only when the examination of the U-boat commander had taken place, that it was learned to be incorrect, and my right hon. Friend thought it right to tell the House.