HC Deb 19 June 1884 vol 289 c809
SIR FREDERICK MILNER

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to a Report that has been sent from Alexandria by Mr. Tuffnell, manager for Miss Sarah Robinson; whether it is not the case, as stated by Mr. Tuffnell, that several soldiers at Alexandria are undergoing terms of imprisonment ranging up to two, and in some instances three, years for no real crime, but only for drunkenness; whether many of the drinking establishments at Alexandria are kept by low-class Maltese, who sell to the soldiers stuffs of a horrible nature purporting to be English drinks, and whether the men are not thus drugged rather than intoxicated; and, whether, under the circumstances, he will cause some inquiries to be made as to the cases of those men, who are undergoing such severe punishment?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

There is no information on the subject at the War Office; but inquiries will be addressed to the General Officer Commanding in Egypt.