§ SIR HENRY TYLERasked the Under Secretary of State for War, Whether Sir Gerald Graham, Sir Redvers Buller, and Sir Evelyn Baring requested that a battery of Horse Artillery should be sent with Sir Gerald Graham's expedition; whether that request was refused by Her Majesty's Government; at what date or dates such requests were made by any of the above Officers; at what dates they were refused; and, if he would explain the reasons for such refusal?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI have not received such a request from any of the officers referred to in the Question, and I do not know under what circumstances it could have been the duty of Sir Evelyn Baring to telegraph on such a subject. General Stephenson, on the 14th of February, telegraphed that General Baker recommended that a field battery of Artillery should be sent; but, as I have already stated, acting on military advice, the recommendation was not complied with.
§ SIR HENRY TYLERI beg to ask the noble Marquess whether he has seen the report in The Times this day with respect to General Graham's Army in the Soudan, in which it says—
The heat was very great, and the troops suffered from want of water, especially the Naval Brigade and the Artillery, who dragged the guns through heavy sand for seven hours;and, whether that was not for want of a battery of Horse Artillery?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI have seen the statement; but until we receive a detailed account of the action that was fought on Friday last, I do not think it possible to give an opinion.