§ Question again proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."
§ Mr. LawI was just going to say a word about Oflag VII, about which there has been a good deal of discussion in the House. It was said that no parcels have arrived at Oflag VII up to the beginning of December. That may have been true, but I have now seen a report from the Protecting Power, which visited the camp on 31st January, which said that so many parcels were at Oflag VII CH that they could not be disposed of, that they had to be stored, and that some of the prisoners had had to be taken to another camp to make room for the parcels, that illustrates what I mean when I say that we must not rely too much on figures going back three months. I ask the "House to believe, whatever may have been the position at the beginning, that it is much better now. The situation has been established; parcels are going through, 1109 and I cannot sec any reason why they should not continue to go through. To keep giving the impression the whole time that the Red Cross parcel service has broken down is not only useless in itself, but is most monstrously unfair to the relatives of prisoners of war who are obviously caused to suffer needless anxiety.
I am sorry I could not have given a little more time to defending the delinquencies of the War Office, but I would like to put this final point to hon. Members. The British Army is a very great and glorious institution. It has been said that an Army marches on its stomach. That is as it may be, but it is quite certain that an Army wins its battles by its spirit, particularly by the spirit of self-confidence—,confidence in itself, in its leaders and in its administration. It would be improper to ask that the Army and the War Office should be immune from all criticism, but I do plead with Members to remember that when they criticise idly, after hearing only one side of the case, and when those criticisms get publicity, they are not just doing harm to the War Office—,which does not matter—,but what they are doing is damaging the spirit of the British Army. I am sure that if the House has confidence in the British Army, the Army will repay that confidence and, in the event, will show that it has been well deserved.