COLONEL SYKESsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether there is any and what foundation for the statement in the letter of the Correspondent of The Times, dated Bombay, 14th October, and in the Madras Times, dated 8th October, that Major General Napier had made a requisition to the Madras Government for European Subaltern Officers to be attached to the Native Regiments proceeding with the Expedition to Abyssinia and was told that the Madras Government had not any Subaltern Officers to spare; and, whether he will lay upon the table a Return of the number of European Officers with each Native Regiment in the Expedition, and the strength in Native Commissioned and Non-commissioned Officers and Men of each Regiment?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTESir, I have received no official or private communication to the effect referred to in the Question of my hon. and gallant Friend. All the information we have received is that the Madras Government have, at the request of Sir Robert Napier, furnished half the Engineer officers and five Commissariat officers. As to the Return for which the hon. and gallant Gentleman asks we have not at present the materials necessary for giving such a Return, but if he will move for it, it shall be presented as soon as we can procure the requisite information.