§ Mr. Paget(by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make with regard to the massacre of a Kikuyu Home Guard camp in the North Tetuttetu location on Monday last.
§ Mr. LytteltonI have received a brief report of this outrage which reads:
On Sunday night at about 10 p.m. a gang of about 200 Mau Mau attacked the Gatumbiro Kikuyu camp in Githingu sub-location of North Tetu in the Nyeri district. One of the sentries fired his rifle to give the alarm but the Mau Mau were in the camp before the occupants were able to come out. The Kikuyu guards attempted to escape but were slashed and shot as they came out of the huts. Eight were slashed to death and three were taken prisoner. The Mau Mau then set fire to the huts and 11 Kikuyu guards were burnt to death. One Mau Mau was killed by the guards' fire. One 303 rifle belonging to headman Stephans was stolen.Since I drafted this reply I have received another telegram from the Governor which the hon. and learned Gentleman might like me to read. It is addressed to me:As you are aware, defensive posts are at present being built in each location and sub-locational area. The Gatumbiro post had not been completed and was only partially wired. The District Officer in charge had instructed the local Kikuyu guards to patrol from the area of their own homes and not to utilise this post until completed. The Kikuyu guards, who are daily getting more confident, disregarded these instructions and utilised the post. The attack took place at dead of night when heavy rain was falling. The scntry was alert and fired to give the alarm, but the post was entered before the Kikuyu guards were able to get out of their hut. The nearest military post was approximately four miles away. Firing was heard and the alarm system worked but, as the area was inundated with rain, it was impossible to get to the post quickly. The chain of command is District Commissioner, District Officer, Chief, Headman and Local Sub-locational Home Guard Commander in close liaison with the military and police at each level.
§ Mr. PagetMay we take it that the Home Guard posts, at least from now on, will not be used unless they are provided with proper wire defences to prevent this 390 sort of surprise? Can the right hon. Gentleman say further what action is to be taken to improve discipline here, as I understand that those people were at the post in direct contradiction to orders?
§ Mr. LytteltonI can only say that these instructions were quite specific and they were expected to be obeyed. As I have said, the morale of these particular Home Guards was very high and they disregarded the instructions. On the general matter of the organisation of the Home Guard, that is improving very rapidly, and we are sending out a distinguished officer with great experience of this type of operation to help in their organisation.
§ Mr. PagetDoes the right hon. Gentleman imply that disobedience to orders is evidence of high morale?
§ Mr. LytteltonThe hon. and learned Gentleman really must not put into my mouth words which I never used. I said that one of the reasons they disregarded the instructions was that they felt able to go patrolling, although they were told not to do so.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonCan my right hon. Friend say whether any steps are being taken to secure the liberation of the men who were captured?
§ Mr. LytteltonOh, yes.
§ Mr. J. HyndThe Minister has said that there were 11 of these Kikuyu Home Guards killed and that one rifle was stolen. Does that mean that there was not more than one rifle in the place? Will he give the House some information on how the men were armed? Unless they are given some means of adequately protecting themselves the whole system will break down.
§ Mr. LytteltonI have not the information for which the hon. Member asks. I only received the telegram a few minutes ago, and I must confine myself to the fact that one rifle was stolen.