§ Mr. LAWSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give the number of soldiers who were sentenced to death by court-martial for desertion in the face of the enemy during the late War, and the number of cases in which the sentence was carried out?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSDesertion in the face of the enemy is not the correct description of any offence under the Army Act, but it is assumed that what is referred to is desertion on Active Service. The number of cases in which the death sentence was carried out for desertion on Active Service during the late War is 264. The number of cases in which the death sentence was awarded for desertion on Active Service was approximately 2,450.