Action of H.MS." Cockchafer Referred to in the House of Commons London, July 2.
In the House of Commons to-day, Mr. G. Lansbury, Labour member for Bow and Bromley, asked by whose authority the Commander of the Cockchafer had acted in connexion with the Wanhsien, incident. He also asked if the two men concerned inthe murder of Mr. Hawley had been court-martialled or otherwise tried, and also the time that elapsed between the murder and the executions.
Mr. Frank Hodges, Civil Lord of the Admiralty, replied that the Cockchafer was the only war vessel' present and that the commanding. officer took the action which he considered necessary. A full written report by the British Commander-in-Chief was awaited.
Mr. Hodges added, amid Opposi tion cheers, that the American Commander-in-Chief had thanked the British Commander for the action taken by the Commander of ing to ved, had materially assisted in saving Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.