§ MR. GUY DAWNAYasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has received any corroboration of the following statement made by the War Correspondent of The Daily Chronicle, and published in their issue of the 6th November:—
The masts, oars, boat-hooks, punting poles, sails, and so on, of the Nile boats were all numbered, on leaving the builders, with the number of the boat to which they belonged. Somehow, or somewhere, they have been taken out, and then pitchforked, as it were, into the boats anyhow, and if a particular boat has the punting poles or a pair of oars belonging to her, she is sure to have the rest of the gear belonging to some other boat or boats. If the boat gear were interchangeable, this would matter little or nothing; but, as the gear of one builder will fit none of the boats of another builder, the consequence is that the already overworked white soldiers here have, with each successive consignment, to turn out under the hottest dry sun in the world, and sort, by numbers, every article of equipment, often, at the end of their job, finding a heap of gear belonging to some boats not yet up, and some boats without any gear at all to speak of. This is making work with a vengeance;and whether, if there is any truth in this statement, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the circumstances attending such apparently wanton negligence on the part of the Transport authorities, or of their subordinates?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONInquiry has been made; but we have no information which will corroborate the statement in the Question of the hon. Member. We have asked whether there is any foundation for it. The packing and despatch from this country were performed under the supervision of specially selected officers. Further, an officer as supercargo was sent with each consignment of boats to take charge of them and their gear during the voyage, so as to deliver them in a complete condition.
§ MR. GUY DAWNAYasked, if an inquiry would be made into the truth of the matter?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI think it will be sufficient to say that it will be done when we find out that such mistakes as are suggested have been made.