§ COLONEL MUREasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the Colonial and Imperial civil and military authorities in South Africa had, previous to the declaration of war, represented to Her Majesty's Government the formidable character of the Zulu Army; and, whether, previous to the declara- 1073 tion of war, the same authorities had urged the Government to despatch larger reinforcements of British troops?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I observe by the terms in which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has put his Question that he has seen the Blue Book in which these matters will be found set out; and probably other hon. Members will have seen it also. He will perceive, and hon. Members will also see, by reference to that Blue Book, that on September 14th Sir Bartle Frere wrote, in a despatch that will be found on page 254 of the Blue Book, that Lord Chelmsford had telegraphed to him that, in the event of hostilities breaking out with the Zulus, he should require several more special service officers, that an addition of two more regiments of infantry would be essential, and that the presence of a cavalry regiment would be of enormous advantage. On the same day, the 14th September, Lord Chelmsford himself wrote to the War Office. The despatch is not in the Blue Book; but if it has not already, it will shortly be laid, on the Table of the House. In it he specified precisely the same reinforcements and the special service officers that would be required, but made no mention of cavalry in his communication. Subsequently, a full Memorandum of a fortnight later, September 28th, was received from Lord Chelmsford, which will be found at page 284 of the Blue Book, setting forth what he would require; and he again confined his request to two battalions of infantry, saying nothing about cavalry. These are the only applications for reinforcements, so far as I am aware, that have been made from the Cape until the other day, after the unfortunate loss which was then sustained. Her Majesty's Government, as will be seen by reference to page 273 of the Blue Book, in a despatch dated October 17, expressed their hesitation at complying with that request; but, on receiving the further and fuller communication a fortnight later, they acceded to it, and the two regiments desired were sent out early in December. Those reinforcements, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman is probably aware, arrived in time to take part in the military operations first undertaken. No request of cavalry was made, I am informed, subsequent to Sir Bartle Frere's despatch 1074 of September 14, nor when Lord Chelmsford and Sir Bartle Frere were informed what reinforcements had been sent out did they express any dissatisfaction that cavalry was not included—on the contrary, I have every reason to believe both of them were satisfied with the completeness with which their request was granted.
§ COLONEL MUREsaid, he might, perhaps, be permitted, in consideration of the great importance of the matter, to ask a further Question. There was a despatch in the Blue Book issued this morning in which the Secretary of State for the Colonies said that the Forces at present at the Cape, including reinforcements, were not with the view of attacking the Zulus, but with the view of defending the Colony. They were there in order to put the Colony in a state of defence, showing that at the time the despatch was written the invasion of Zululand was not contemplated. ["Oh, oh!"] He thought, under the painful circumstances in which they were met, hon. Members opposite might listen to a very few words even in the form of a Question. He wished to know, Whether the Force at the disposal of Lord Chelmsford was really for the purpose only of defending the Colony, or for the purpose of invasion?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, perhaps I may be allowed to answer the Question. I must refer the hon. and gallant Member to the despatch of Lord Chelmsford of September 14, which will be laid on the Table. It includes a Memorandum stating that, in the event of the invasion of Zululand being decided on, it would be necessary to operate on so many lines, &c.; and it concludes with a request for the two battalions of infantry to which my right hon. Friend has referred.