SIR GILBERT HEATHCOTEsaid, he begged to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary at War when the wooden houses for the troops in the Crimea might be expected to arrive, and whether any progress had been made in providing huts or shelter from any sources derived from the country itself? He also begged to ask when it was expected that the winter clothing for the troops would arrive in the Crimea?
§ MR. SIDNEY HERBERTIn replying to the questions of my hon. Friend, I will answer him in the order they stand upon the paper. With respect to the wooden houses, we gave orders to have them constructed as soon as we received information from Lord Raglan that they would be required. A portion of them is at sea, and as far as I am able to form a guess that portion is at this moment at the Bosphorus. Day by day they are going out, but the numbers sent are not sufficient to hut the whole army. We have sent word by telegraph to Constantinople to Lord Stratford to procure as much materials as possible there for constructing huts and to send them to Balaklava; and Lord Raglan has sent to Sinope to purchase timber there. We have sent by telegraph to Lord Westmoreland to have huts constructed in Austria; and by the mail before last we learned that an Austrian Lloyd steamer had left Trieste with some of 788 those huts on board. I do not know the exact extent of the aid we have received in Austria; but, from what we can gather by surmise from the amount of the Bill, I trust the operation has been a very considerable one. With respect to the warm clothing, a considerable portion of it has arrived—a great portion is on sea—and a portion has not yet gone. The last letter I received from Lord Raglan stated that the warm clothing which had come by the ships was in process of distribution, and he hoped the result would be that the troops would be much more comfortable.
SIR GILBERT HEATHCOTEsaid, he would also beg to ask whether any steps had been taken to do away with the difference between the dress of the officers and privates, both in reference to their ordinary clothing, and that specially ordered for winter use in the Crimea? He asked the question in consequence of the great and disproportionate loss of officers in the late battles.
§ MR. SIDNEY HERBERTWith regard to the clothing ordered for winter use we gave instructions to Lord Raglan—as many officers would be unable from the want of facilities for transport to obtain clothing—that he should have the power to issue clothing to the officers as well as to the men from the stock sent out, and so far as that is done they will be similar in appearance. With reference to the new pattern uniform, which is that by which the clothing of the regiments in the East will be made up next issue, the distinction between officers and men has been greatly minished. There will be no epaulette on the officer's coat, and that which is now the most distinctive mark between the officer and private has been done away with. It has been stated by an officer who came from Balaklava that a misapprehension exists as to the officers having been picked off on account of their uniform. The fact is, that officers from the nature of their duty, are much more exposed than any other persons, especially mounted officers, who are more likely to catch the eye of marksmen, and who are more exposed than others.
§ MR. SIDNEY HERBERTI think there is to be no undress uniform.
§ The House adjourned at half after eight o'clock.