18 NOVEMBER 1911, Page 18

In the Commons on Tuesday Mr. Hunt asked a question

about the accusation against British soldiers in Mr. Wilfrid Blunt's book " Gordon at Khartoum." Writing in his diary about Abu Klee, Mr. Blunt said that the British soldiers " were mere murderers" and " a mongrel scum of thieves from White- chapel and Seven Dials." After praising the traditions and chivalry of the enemy, Mr. Blunt added that he desired to see "every man of Stewart's butchering host butchered in their turn and sent to bell." Colonel Seely replied to Mr. Hunt that it might be well " to treat the abominable slander with contempt." We may add that Mr. Blunt's attempt to explain his action in publishing his false and malicious slanders in reality affords him no defence. It may be said that it is unwise for us to call attention to Mr. Blunt's absurd book. If only its English readers were concerned we should agree, but a statement such as his may only too easily be quoted abroad and be accepted as accurate merely because it is not contradicted.