§ MR. TOTTENHAMasked the Secretary of State for War, If any steps have been taken to convey to Lieut. General Sir Frederick Stephenson the acknowledgment of the Government of the soundness of the advice given by him in favour of the Suakin-Berber route; and, if he will state the reasons which have influenced the Government now to adopt the views of that officer, which were rejected in August, and which led to his supersession?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONNo, Sir. At the time the Government determined to send an Expedition to the relief of General Gordon, the adoption of the Suakin-Berber route was, in our opinion, impracticable. No advance on Khartoum can now probably be undertaken until next autumn, by which time I hope a railway the greater part of the way to Berber will have been completed, which will make the adoption of that route not only practicable, but desirable. The reasons for the selection of Lord Wolseley to command the Expedition were given in Parliamentary Papers issued in 1884.
§ MR. TOTTENHAMWill the Government make any communication to Sir Frederick Stephenson?