§ Mr. MACMASTERasked the Under-Secretary for War (1) whether our commanders know, either from the Germans' own announcements or from interrogating prisoners or from other sources, the names of the generals in command of the opposing forces; whether there is any reason to doubt that the Germans know who are the generals commanding our divisions, corps, and brigades; and, if so, what advantage there is in concealing the services of our own officers and regiments? (2) Whether, seeing that the War has now become one of movement and our Allies the French invariably in their reports mention the names of the divisional and corps commanders who are participating in the conflict in the different areas, he will consider the possibility of a like course being adopted in the British Army in which recognition by name has been so scantily given to commanders of divisions, corps, and brigades as well as to regimental officers?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe names of generals in command of the opposing forces are generally known to the Allies, and it is probable that the Germans are in possession of a corresponding amount of information on the subject. There is no restriction on the mention of the names of corps commanders. The names of other individuals who are considered deserving of mention are brought to notice in the official dispatches, and the achievements of those who receive rewards for gallantry and leadership are fully stated in the published lists. It is considered most undesirable to mention in official communiqués names other than those of the higher commanders, since, owing to the incompleteness of the information on which the communiqués are necessarily based, obvious unfairness would be caused to those individuals whose prowess had not been brought to light by the time the communiqué was issued. Where, however, the gallantry of individual actions has been confirmed by subsequent inquiry, steps are being taken to give the names and details of the story to the accredited correspondents.