I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information showing that, on 19th February, the Boers, after capturing a train at Taai- bosch, fired upon the passengers, black and white, killing hundreds as they lay maimed and wounded in the wreckage.

I have no official information of the matter alluded to.

As this statement has been widely circulated, will the noble Lord take steps to ascertain whether there is any truth in it?

If there is any truth in it we shall have official information.