HC Deb 22 May 1879 vol 246 c1008
MR. WADDY

asked the Secretary of State for War, What is the total number of British and Colonial Forces, naval and military, and of all arms now in Zululand; and, what troops, if any, are on their way thither or are under orders to depart?

COLONEL STANLEY

, in reply, said, the total number, according to the last Return of the British Forces, was 16,959, in addition to 1,064 men on the passage out and 1,615 under orders to embark. The Colonial troops were, so far as he had been able to ascertain, something like 4,453 of all arms. He had no Returns of the Naval Force. The troops under orders to embark were, for the most part, drafts.

MR. WADDY

said, that perhaps the First Lord of the Admiralty could inform the House what was the amount of the Naval Force?

MR. W. H. SMITH

The number of men landed from the ships is 850 blue-jackets and Marines.