§ Mr. BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the principles guiding the Admiralty in holding courts-martial for desertion are now quite different from those guiding the War Office, having regard to the fact that only two courts-martial were held on men afloat in 1908 for this offence out of a total enlisted force of 112,751, while 18 courts-martial were held on Royal Marines ashore out of a total number borne of 7,275?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe principles are different. Men of the fleet who desert and are recovered are, as a general rule, punished summarily by their commanding officers. Marines on shore who desert are tried under the Army Act.