South African War—Alleged Boer Recruiting In Belgium
I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that Beer agents are actively engaged throughout Belgium enlisting recruits for the Beer forces; and whether the Government have taken or intend to take any steps by friendly representations to the Belgian Government, or otherwise, to prevent a continuance of same.
I have to say that we have received no information which leads us to think that recruiting of the kind referred to by my lion, friend is being carried on.
Jameson Raid—Chaptered Company's Liability
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonics whether he can inform the House if the claim of the late Transvaal Government against the Chartered Company in respect of; the Jameson raid is a British asset; and, if so, whether he intends taking action against the Company for its recovery and, if no action is to be taken, will he explain the ground for so acting.
rose to answer the question.
May I rise to order, Sir? I should like to postpone this question until to-morrow, when, I trust, the Secretary of State for the Colonies will be here. I do not want a repetition of last week.
If the hon. Member will allow me to explain, I think I can satisfy him. My right lion, friend is unable to be here to-day— [An IRISH MEMBER: He is in the smoke- room]—but he has sent me his answer. Will that satisfy the hon. Gentleman?
Yes, that will do.
The claim of the South African Republic against the British South Africa Company was for £1,677,938 3s. 3d., including one million for moral and intellectual damage. This claim Her Majesty's Government declined to entertain as not being reasonable. The question whether the direct loss proved to have been suffered by the South African Republic in consequence of the raid can now be recovered from the British South Africa Company by His Majesty's Government or by the Government of the Colony, as successor to the South African Republic, is a question on which I am seeking the advice of the law officers. On receipt of their opinion His Majesty's Government will take the whole matter into consideration, and will communicate, if necessary, with Sir Alfred Milnor and with the British South Africa Company.
May I ask why the Secretary for the Colonies is not here?
I will tell the hon. Gentleman. Because it was necessary for my right hon. friend to consult the Prime Minister on a matter of great importance.
But as a matter of fact is not the right hon. Gentleman in the smoke-room now?
Order, order!
May I ask—
The question on the Paper has been fully answered.
May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will be good enough to be careful not lightly to give up this claim for the reason—
Order, order!
False Announcements On Newspaper Contents Bills
I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General whether his attention has been called to placards published by a London paper on 28th February, to the following effect: "Surrender of Botha, Official, Sun"; and whether, as news-vendors are prosecuted for crying false information, he proposes to take any steps against the proprietors of this paper.
I have been asked by my hon. and learned friend to answer this question. Newsvendors can only be prosecuted for obtaining, or attempting to obtain, money by false pretences, which is the case when it is proved that they knowingly call out news not contained in the paper they are trying to sell. I am advised that it is not likely that proceedings, if taken against the proprietors for obtaining or attempting to obtain money by false pretences, would be successful in this case. I may add that I have received from the editor of the Sun a letter, in which he expresses his deep regret for the occurrence, and says that—
"The news came to the Sun on authority which has never before failed us.ֵThe addition of the word 'official' was the result of a stupid misunderstanding among the staff, one of whom is now no longer in the service of the Sun."
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these "spots" on the Sun are very common in London papers?
[No answer was returned.]
British Reverses—Oommander-In-Chief's Reports
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, and, if so, when, ho will inform the House what were the actual circumstances of the surrenders at Nicholson's Nek, Reddersburg, and other unsuccessful actions in South Africa; and what is the report of the Commander-in-Chief thereupon.
The Commander-in-Chief does not consider it desirable to make a special report on each of the unsuccessful actions in South Africa, hut he has taken steps to deal suitably in each case with the officers in fault.
On what ground was an exception made in the case of the action at Sanna's Post?
A special report was made in regard to that action, and in his original despatch Lord Roberts alluded to that as a separate despatch which ho would publish.
Are we to understand that we are not to take the answer just given as going back in any sense from the promise made lately in debate on this subject?
Certainly not.
Paardeberg Operations
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the concluding paragraph in Lieut.-General Kelly-Kenny's Report to Lord Roberts, dated 20th February, 1900, on the operations at Paardeberg; whether, as a matter of fact, Lord Kitchener did direct the operations at Paardeberg Drift on the 18th February by suggestions to General Kelly-Kenny; and who is held responsible by the War Office and the Commander-in-Chief for the conduct of those operations.
Yes, Sir. I had that paragraph in my mind in the answers I gave last week, and I have nothing to add to them. General Kelly-Kenny is directly responsible for these operations, but the Commander-in-Chief takes full responsibility for what occurred.
Is the right lion. Gentleman aware that, according to the statement of The Times correspondent, General Kelly-Kenny telegraphed to Lord Roberts and received a reply from Lord Roberts to the effect that if more than one brigade were engaged Lord Kitchener was in command and he must take his orders from him?
I have explained the exact position of General Kelly-Kenny and I have nothing to add. Lord Kitchener was empowered by Lord Roberts to offer advice. He thought fit to do so from time to time, and General Kelly-Kenny accepted the advice.
Bloemfontein Hospitals
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that No. 8 General Hospital, one of the two largest hospitals at Bloemfontein, has remained on the same site for over ten months, the ground being thoroughly infected with enteric poison in consequence of the number of enteric cases treated there during and since the epidemic of last year; whether, in view of the increased rate of mortality from enteric in South Africa, immediate inquiry will be made as to why this hospital camp, in accordance with recognised principles of sanitation, should not have been long since moved to an entirely new site; and whether he can give the number of cases admitted to this hospital and the number of enteric deaths in it during each of the six months ending 31st January.
I am informed that this hospital has remained on the same site for ten months, but there appears to be no reason for anxiety as the site has been reported to be perfect, and the sanitary reports up to the 18th January state that the general sanitary conditions were good. The figures of this hospital are as follow:—
Admissions. | Deaths. | |
August | 220 | 3 |
September | 154 | — |
October | 26 | 1 |
November | 49 | 5 |
December | 61 | 3 |
January(to 25th) (to 25t | 93 | 12 |
Civil Surgeons In South Africa
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state with regard to the last fifty civilian surgeons and physicians engaged by the Royal Army Medical Staff Corps for employment in South Africa the length of time for which each had been legally qualified before being sent out.
Ten were qualified in 1901, ten in 1900, and nine in 1899. The remaining twenty-one have been qualified for varying periods going back as far as 1876.
Soldiers' Pensions
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the propriety of placing non-commissioned officers and private soldiers who have been rendered wholly or partially incapable of earning a livelihood by disease, clearly due to active service in the field, on the same footing for pension purposes as those who have been similarly incapacitated by wounds or injuries.
All such cases will be specially considered with a view to the grant of a pension on the scale contemplated. The scale is under consideration.
Cost Of Transport Of Horses To The Cape
I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will state the cost per head of transporting horses to the Cape from Great Britain, United States, Canada, Hungary, Australia, and Argentina respectively.
The average prices of freight for horses to South Africa are as follows: — From Great Britain, £24 13s. 6d.; United States. £22 4s. 6d.; Canada, £23 14s. 4d.; Hungary, £21 5s. 7d.; Australia, £18; Argentina, £14 5s. 3d. The cost of conveying horses in transports to South Africa cannot be given.
Does the Return for Great Britain include Irish horses?
Yes, Sir.
Rest For Horses Landed At Cape Town
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any steps are now being taken to insure sufficient rest being given to the horses landed at Cape Town, or other South African port, before they are sent on to the front, or otherwise employed in the service of the war.
I can assure the hon. Member that every care is being taken to secure the horses as long a rest as possible before going to the front. Lord Kitchener has recently informed me that he has got his supply of horses well in hand.
Commissions For The Yeomanry
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a Yeoman wishful to obtain a commission in the Regular Army can do so on the same terms as are allowed to the Militia, and whether active service at the front would be reckoned as of equal value in both cases.
Yeomen who have served in South Africa are eligible for any direct commissions which may be granted for service in South Africa. They are not, however, qualified to go up for the Militia competitive examination. Some commissions will be placed at Lord Kitchener's disposal for the benefit of Yeomen.
Imperial Yeomanry—Accommodation For Recruits At Aldershot
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the men who have recently joined the Yeomanry and are now at Aldershot, holding themselves ready to proceed to the front, are without proper military boots and coats, and are rapidly developing pneumonia, and becoming generally unfit for service owing to the accommodation to which they have been subjected.
I must refer my hon. and gallant friend to a full reply on this subject which I gave to a question put by the hon. Member for the Basingstoke Division of Hants on Thursday last, the 28th ultimo.† I have since visited Aldershot, and in my opinion the authorities there have housed and equipped the very large number of Yeomanry who have arrived with a promptitude which deserves every commendation. The supply of men with all necessaries is proceeding at the rate of over 500 a day.
The Duke Of Cambridge's Yeomanry
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the stamp of men enlisting for the Duke of Cambridge's Yeomanry at 5s. per day; and whether this class of recruits justifies the additional rate of pay given.
Those men who have been accepted for the Duke of Cambridge's Yeomanry are fully qualified according to the standards, and justify the additional rate of pay given. A large number of the persons who offered themselves for enlistment have been rejected. It should be remembered that the men are as a rule some years older than ordinary recruits, and therefore are at the best military age.
English Purchase Of Artillery In Germany
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state on what Vote the field guns ordered from Germany will be charged.
These have been charged to Vote 9 for 1900–1.