DR. CAMERONasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he can inform the House what was the extent of the loss of baggage animals on the North West frontier of India between the opening of the Afghan campaign in November 1878 and the month of April 1879; and, whether he will state to the House, whether any, and, if so, what arrangements have been made to compensate the owners in Scinde and the Punjab of such animals as were requisitioned and died when taken away for military purposes from agricultural and other labours?
§ MR. E. STANHOPESir, I believe that the number of camels which died or disappeared in the winter of 1878–9 was 31,000. We have not yet very complete information on the subject; but we know that full compensation was ordered to be paid on the spot for animals actually certified to have been killed by the enemy. As regards all others the fullest inquiry possible under the circumstances was ordered to be made before the claim was submitted, the Superintendent of Transport and the Commissariat Officer noting on each claim, and giving an opinion as to the amount to be allowed.