HC Deb 15 March 1884 vol 285 cc1651-3
SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS

Before the Order of the Day is read, I should like to know from my noble Friend the Secretary of State for War, If the Government have received any further intelligence from Egypt; and I will also ask, if he can explain how it is that at 12 o'clock there were no Members of the Government in the House?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

Sir, in reply to the Question of the right hon. Gentleman, I may say that Her Majesty's Government have received no information from General Graham since the telegram received last night, which appears in the newspapers this morning. I think also that no further information—or, at any rate, no recent infor- mation—has been received from Khartoum. It appears that the telegraph service has been interrupted for two or three days between Khartoum and Shendy. A steamer arrived either yesterday or the day before at Shendy from Khartoum, which had been fired at on the way and it is, therefore, assumed that some of the tribes in that part of the country have risen.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

Can the noble Marquess say what is the date of the latest communication received by the Government from General Gordon?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I think the last communication was received on Thursday.

SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS

Has any information been received from Assouan? I want to know what is going on there.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

No; there is no intelligence whatever from Assouan, and nothing that I am aware of is taking place in that part of the country. In reference to the other Question put to me a short time ago by the right hon. Gentleman, as to the presence of Members of the Government when the House met, I may say that the House was formed not very long after 12 o'clock, and there were a considerable number of Members of the Government present at the time.

MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

Can the noble Marquess give the House any authentic list of the numbers of officers and men killed and wounded in the recent engagement?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

The telegram published this morning from General Graham contains, I believe, an accurate account of the officers killed and wounded in the recent engagement. I am not certain yet whether the list of men has arrived. If it has arrived, it has not been published, because the numbers have not yet been identified. Every information of that sort will be published in the newspapers as soon as possible.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

Has the British regiment sent up the Nile gone to Assouan or Assiout?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I believe the British battalion sent up the Nile has gone to Assiout.

MR. RAIKES

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, If it was not the fact that there was not a single Member of the Government in the House when he (Sir Thomas Brassey) entered at 20 minutes past 12?

SIR THOMAS BRASSEY

said, he believed there were several in other parts of the House.