§ MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he has seen the letters published in the "Natal Mercury" of April 30th and May 2nd, and other South African papers, from Captain D'Arcy, of the Light Horse, and Commandant Scherm-brucker, in which the following passages occur:—
The next day our coloured brothers came on and attacked the camp in numbers from 20,000 to 23,000, and after six hours' hard fighting they bolted. We killed a little over 2,300, and when once they retired all the horsemen in camp followed them for eight miles, butchering the brutes all over the place. I told the men, ' No quarter, boys, and remember yesterday.' And they did knock them about, killing them all over the place."—(Capt. D'Arcy.)For fully seven miles I chased two columns of the enemy, who tried to escape over the Um-volozi, but I came beforehand, and pushed them off the road. They fairly ran like bucks, but I was after them like the whirlwind, and shooting incessantly inio the thick column, which could not have been less than 5,000 strong. They became exhausted, and shooting them down would have taken too much time; so we took the assegais from the dead men and rushed among the living ones, stabbing them right and left with fearful revenge for the misfortunes of the 28th ult. No quarter was given."—(Commandant Schermbrucker.)And, whether these officers belong to the local volunteer force, and to what authority they are responsible?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, I have seen the first of the letters quoted by the hon. Member, which was stated in the papers to have been written by Captain D'Arcy, who is given as belonging to the Natal Light Horse; but 694 I do not know anything more of him. I cannot find any letters of the latter officer. I believe he is engaged with the Colonial Force in Natal. I believe both officers are brigaded with the Regular Forces, and, as such, are subject to the Articles of War and responsible to the General in command of the Army.