§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, in pursuance of the precedents of the Abyssinian and Ashantee Wars, Her Majesty's Government intend to grant 964 to the troops engaged in the late campaign in Zululand any batta or extra pay as compensation for the expenses and losses incurred while on that service; and, if it is the intention of the Government to give prize money for cattle captured from the enemy during the Zulu War, according to the values assessed by military Boards at the time of capture?
§ MR. CHILDERSIn reply to my hon. Friend, I have to say that I have carefully looked into the decisions of my Predecessors on this subject, and I find that the precedents of the Abyssinian and Ashantee Wars were not considered in point. In the case of the Abyssinian War, batta, which is an allowance granted under Indian regulations, was only given to the troops because the expedition was organized in India, and the troops were on Indian pay and under Indian regulations, and it was only given in that instance because no previous notice had been given to the troops that it would not be granted. In Ashantee the prize was inconsiderable, and to avoid the expense and delay in its distribution a gratuity of a month's pay, which could be immediately issued, was given in lieu. I am not aware what the expenses and losses are to which the Question refers. As the troops received free rations of every sort, the only expense would, I presume, be on account of the wear and tear of clothing; but on this point I find that large supplies of clothing, necessaries, and boots were sent out to replace losses, &c, on purpose to obviate claims for compensation. Officers received extraordinary field allowance. Any losses incurred by them have been dealt with under Royal Warrant. I should mention that in 1878 the Treasury approved of a full ration being issued to troops on field service, free of stoppage, the main reason for this concession being that it would obviate the necessity for grants of boon pay. As regards the captured cattle, I find that what took place was this: —Up to a certain date the captured cattle were sold on the spot, and the money realized irregularly distributed among the troops. In May, 1878, my Predecessor instructed Lord Chelmsford to cease distributing the profits of sales of captured cattle, as it was open to grave political and military objections, offering as it did great temptation, especially to Colonial levies, 965 to make predatory attacks, and to make the captured cattle their first consideration, instead of devoting their whole energies to inflicting loss on the enemy. He was, therefore, instructed either to slaughter them or hand them over to the Commissariat. There is no record in the War Office of any assessment by Military Boards of the value of cattle so captured. They were, whenever possible, given to the troops as extra meat ration. After the advance of the troops into Zululand the money value of these captures could have been little or nothing in an enemy's country, as there were naturally no purchasers; and the contractor was bound to have his own supply, regardless of any casual augmentation of this nature. Under these circumstances, I cannot hold out any hope of the decision of my Predecessor, either as to extra pay or prize money, being re-considered.