§ Mr. PROTHEROasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Eastern Command orders direct all cases of alleged contravention of the Defence of the Realm Regulations in reference to lights and lighting by officers and soldiers to be dealt with by competent military authorities as matters of discipline, and that, as stated by him, a commanding officer has no power to award punishment to an officer or warrant officer beyond the limits prescribed by Section 46 of the Army Act and King's Regulations 463; and whether officers and warrant officers are, therefore, to escape punishment for offences against the Defence of the Realm Regulations for which civilians are brought before a Court of Summary Jurisdiction and heavily fined?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe instructions in question have, no doubt accidentally, omitted to specify the action to be taken against the warrant officers, but it is quite obvious that cases that are too grave for commanding officers to deal with are to be dealt with by court-martial. It is also obvious that offences committed by officers and soldiers against regulations framed for the better protection of this country should be dealt with as a matter of discipline. The attention of the Eastern Command is being called to the omission of the warrant officer.