§ Sir B. CHADWICKasked the Chief Secretary how many cases there have been of the abduction or seizure by Sinn Feiners of members of the forces of the Crown since the beginning of the year; and what, in each case, is known about their fate?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThree private soldiers of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry were missing from Limerick Barracks on 13th February. They were unarmed. Their bodies were found near Woodford, County Galway, nine days later. There is no doubt these men were murdered by rebels. An officer of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers disappeared near Blarney on 16th April, and was subsequently reported in the hands of the rebels. His fate is unknown but there are grounds for believing that he has been murdered. A sergeant of the Essex Regiment was wounded and captured in an ambush on 19th March, and was afterwards found murdered in an adjacent field. Eleven members of the Royal Irish Constabulary have been abducted. One is believed to have been murdered. Four were subsequently released. The fate of the remaining six is unknown, all attempts to obtain information having so far proved unsuccessful.