§ Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the following seventeen men in the 2nd Northern Non-Combatant Corps, Private T. W. Mutch, No. 690; Private F. Hirst, No. 683; Private C. W. Smith, No.1439; Private T. A. Lupton, No. 684; Private J. J. Clarke, No. 692; Private N. Sidebottom, No. 1417; Private A. H. Vesty, No. 894; Private A. V. Rudd, No. 3575; Private H. Wright, No. 961; Private J. H. Mitchell, No. 1431; Private J. W. Vickers, No. 681; Private V. Fallas, No. 1485; Private C. H. Fitch, No. 891; Private B. Brooke, No. 974; Private 239W I. Sutton, No. 886; Private G. Burton, No. 885; and Private K. W. Booth, No. 3674, were, on 10th December, 1917, sentenced at Abancourt for refusing to handle military supplies; whether their sentences of two years' hard labour have been commuted to eighty days' field punishment No. 1; whether, while undergoing punishment, they were, contrary to Regulations, dragged round the square and thrown on the ground, picked up, and again thrown down and kicked; whether soldiers who watched these proceedings made their disgust apparent; and where these men now are?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThese men were tried, as stated, on 10th December last, at Abancourt, for refusing to handle military supplies. They did not receive sentences of two years' hard labour, but twelve of them were sentenced to eighty days' field punishment No. 1, and five to ninety days, four of whom had ten days remitted. There is no record that they received any ill-treatment, and I should be glad if the hon. Member would furnish me with any particulars he has in support of his statement. So far as is known, they are still in France.