HC Deb 28 April 1868 vol 191 cc1460-1
MR. WHALLEY

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, What measures have been taken for the removal of the 86th Regiment from the Mauritius, and within what period it may be expected that the Regiment will, by this or other means, be rescued from its present perilous condition; and, with reference to the General commanding in the Mauritius and the Colonel of the Regiment, whether any steps have been taken, or are intended to fix upon those officers respectively the responsibility for the disastrous results of their having landed the said Regiment, in disregard of instructions and in defiance of the express warning of the local authorities?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

replied that he could only repeat the Answer which he had given to a similar Question some time ago, as far as the first part of the hon. Member's Question was concerned. He had taken no measures for the removal of the 86th Regiment from the Mauritius beyond those which he had already communicated to the House—namely, that he had given authority to the officer in command in the Mauritius to remove the troops whenever the state of the health in the island might render such a course advisable, a question upon which he could not of course at such a distance give any decision. The instructions sent out referred also to others, for the 32nd Regiment and other troops were also stationed there. His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief had sent out instructions that a strict investigation should be made into the reasons for permitting the troops to land, in disregard of the warning of the local authorities, and as the hon. Member would see, he could not give any further answer to the Question until that Report had been made.

ADMIRAL ERSKINE

said, he would beg to ask, How many men of the 86th had died?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

said, that only one death had occurred among the men of the 86th Regiment, although there had been a great deal of sickness.

MR. WHALLEY

Have not the women and children suffered more?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

I cannot tell exactly the number of women and children that have suffered. The last account is that the women and children have suffered more than the men; I will be prepared to give a more exact Answer on Thursday.