HC Deb 11 February 1881 vol 258 cc631-3
COLONEL STANLEY

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he had received any news from the Transvaal; and whether Government intended to send out, or to offer to send out, more reinforcements?

MR. CHILDERS

Sir, in reply to my right hon. Friend I have to state that immediately on the receipt of the news of Sir George Colley's action at Ingogo, I discussed the position of affairs with Lord Kimberley; and, after consultation with my military advisers, we telegraphed yesterday to Sir George Colley, offering to send to him within 10 days a considerable force of Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery, and the arrangements to despatch them were at the same time settled. I asked Sir George Colley to telegraph to me the exact amount of reinforcements which he considered it would be desirable to send out; and, on the receipt of his reply, the final orders will be at once given. My right hon. Friend also asked me what telegrams we have received. In answer, I have to say that last night I received two telegrams from Sir George Colley, the first having been sent off at 5.20 p.m. yesterday, and the second at 7.45 p.m. This morning I have received two additional telegrams from Sir George Colley. They are as follows:— From the General Officer Commanding' Natal and Transvaal to the Secretary of State for War (received llth February). Feb. 11, 1881. Boers have occupied late battlefield. Reported to be in force in neighbourhood of Newcastle. I offered medical assistance to Boer commandant after engagement; offer declined, though in grateful terms, but permission asked to send waggons with their wounded by road through our lines. Search party still looking for body of Lieutenant Wilkinson. From the General Officer Commanding Natal and Transvaal to the Secretary of State for War (received February 11, 1881). Feb. 10, 1881. Following is corrected list casualties on 8th:— Staff—Captain Macgregor, R.E., Assistant Military Secretary; Mr. M. Stuart, Resident Magistrate, my interpreter, killed King's Dragoon Guards—1 man wounded. Royal Artillery—Captain Greer, 3 men, killed; Lieutenant Parsons, 10 men, wounded. 58th Regiment—2 men killed. 60th Lilies—Lieutenants Garrett and O'Connell, 56 men, killed; Second Lieutenants Pixley, Haworth, Thistlethwayte, 52 men, wounded; Lieutenant Wilkinson, 8 men, missing. Army Service Corps— I man wounded. Wounded all removed to Newcastle; dead buried on the field. Lieutenant Wilkinson believed to have been drowned crossing Hood stream, taking aid to wounded after engagement; am searching for body. Haworth dangerously wounded; Pixley, Parsons, severely: Thistlethwayte slightly. Nominal rolls of dead will follow. [The third telegram, as read by the right hon. Gentleman, was dated Feb. 10, and merely contained a list of the killed and wounded in the action on the 8th inst.]

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

said, that a telegram had appeared in Tito Times saying that communications between the camp and Newcastle were cut off on Thursday afternoon, and asked, how communications could be expected from Sir George Colley on the subject of reinforcements, if this intelligence were true?

MR. CHILDERS

I must take blame to myself that I have not studied all the telegraphic communications which have appeared in the newspapers, so as to be able to correct them without notice. But the paper in question contains a communication from the seat of war, and another very long telegram appears in another paper to-day. They are both dated from Newcastle on Wednesday, whereas I have now read despatches dated late on Thursday night from Sir George Colley himself. I am, therefore, under the belief that there must be some misapprehension as to the telegraphic wire having been cut.