HC Deb 07 March 1884 vol 285 cc868-70
SIR HENRY TYLER

asked the Secretary of State for War, On what date General Stephenson applied for a battery of Artillery to accompany Sir Gerald Graham's Force; on what date the application was refused; what were the reasons for refusing such an application; whether it was originally intended that the guns should be dragged through heavy sand and soil, under the disadvantages of heat and thirst, as appears from the following extract from Sir Gerald Graham's General Order:— The General Officer Commanding thanks the Naval Brigade for their cheerful endurance during the severe work of dragging the guns over difficult country when suffering from heat and scarcity of water, and for their ready gallantry and steadiness under fire while serving the guns. The Naval Brigade contributed materially to the success of the action, and the General Officer Commanding cannot too highly express his thanks for their services; and, whether it was intended that Sir Gerald Graham should do without the Artillery, which thus accompanied him?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

General Stephenson inquired on the 14th of February whether a battery of Horse Artillery might be sent, as advised by Baker Pasha. On the following day he was instructed not to send it. General Gordon had, before his departure, emphatically deprecated the employment of Field Artillery in desert warfare, and had expressed an opinion that Hicks Pasha's defeat might have been caused by his being encumbered with guns, in which view he was supported by Lord Wolseley. It was considered, among other reasons, that the employment of horses should be diminished as much as possible, owing to scarcity of water. Ten mountain guns were sent on camels with General Graham's force, and that amount of Artillery was considered ample for the operation to be undertaken. The following is an extract from the Minute of Lord Wolseley, to which I refer:— To have sent field guns with the force intended for the relief of Tokar would have added greatly to the difficulty of the water supply, as water would have to be carried on camels for the horses. Every extra camel accompanying the little force under General Graham weakens the fighting power of that force, as the protection of your camel train, when engaged in the desert with Arabs, is one of the most serious difficulties to be encountered. It is by no means certain that horses could drag the guns beyond Teb. Anyone who saw the attempt made on the evening of the 24th of August, 1882, and during the following night, by the Horse Artillery, to get their guns and ammunition waggons to the front for the action which was expected the following morning, will realize how absurd it would have been to have sent Field Artillery on wheels with the Tokar expedition. It must be understood that Lord Wolseley, in expressing this opinion, does not impute the slightest blame to the Artillery. He merely explains the enormous difficulties of dragging guns of considerable weight through the sands of the desert.

SIR HENRY TYLER

asked whether it was not more difficult for sailors and artillerymen to draw the guns than for horses to draw them? He also wished to know whether, in the expedition now being prepared against Osman Digna, there would be Field Artillery; and, if so, whether sailors and artillerymen were to drag the guns?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I have not yet received information as to the circumstances under which the Naval Brigade attached to General Graham's force thought it necessary to take these guns with them. The Naval Brigade did not form part of the force as organized either in Egypt or in this country. No doubt, General Graham was extremely glad to employ the sailors who were available at Trinkitat, and the best way to employ them was in dragging the guns as they had done on many former occasions. The force which is now about to be sent, from Suakin will not have any Field Artillery. Orders were sent to the General Officer Commanding in Cairo and to General Graham to make any demand for this Artillery which they might consider necessary; but I have heard recently that General Graham is not going to employ any field guns.