HC Deb 18 February 1884 vol 284 cc1169-70
MR. W. H. SMITH

asked the Secretary of State for War, If any steps were taken by the Government to comply with the recommendations of Sir Evelyn Baring, General Stephenson, and General Wood, stated in No. 153, page 131, of Egypt, No. 1, 1884— That immediate steps should he taken to bring the present British Force up to its war strength, and That the Egyptian Army should he strengthened by a brigade of black troops, with English officers," &c.; if nothing was done, whether the advice asked for by Lord Granville, in No. 97, page 94, was disregarded; what the numbers of the British Forces in Egypt would have been if raised to war strength; and, what they were on the 1st of January, or when the last Returns were made?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

The steps recommended by Sir Evelyn Baring and General Stephenson were that a couple of battalions at war strength in the Mediterranean garrisons and a mountain battery, without horses, in this country should be held in readiness for despatch to Egypt at short notice; that the British Force in Egypt should be raised to its war strength; and that the Egyptian Army should be strengthened by a brigade of black troops, with English officers and a proportion of non-commissioned officers. Two battalions in the Mediterranean were at once selected by His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief to be sent on whenever demanded; and a battery of artillery has been held in readiness here to proceed at short notice if required. Steps were at the same time taken to make up the battalions in Egypt to their full Colonial establishment, and arrangements were made with the Admiralty to provide for the garrisoning of Alexandria, so that the two and a-half battalions there might be available for active service if General Stephenson should need their aid. This was thought preferable to raising the establishment of the regiments in Egypt to what is technically called war strength, as it obviated the necessity for a large influx of young recruits, and placed at General Stephenson's disposal a larger reinforcement than he had himself indicated. Sir Evelyn Baring was also informed that Her Majesty's Government were ready to provide the officers and non-commissioned officers for the proposed new brigade of the Egyptian Army. The regiments in Egypt were, on the 1st of February, 384 below their authorized establishment.