§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the Secretary of State or the Government of India have any communication with the Brigadier General of the Indian Army at Suakin and the Transport Officers regarding the treatment of the Indian camp followers attached to the expedition, the losses sustained by them, and the circumstances under which they were surprised and cut up; or, if not, whether the Secretary of State will procure Reports on the subject from the Indian Officers? The hon. Member also asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he has yet received any reports of the losses sustained by the Indian and Native camp followers attached to the Suakin Expedition, especially on Sunday March 22nd, and full explanations of the causes which led to the surprise of that date; and, whether there will be an inquiry into the conduct and management of Generals Graham and M'Neill, and full opportunity for hearing any complaints regarding the management which led to great losses and sufferings among the camp followers?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONIn reply to the Question addressed to my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for India, I may say that it would be a most unusual course to call upon a Brigadier General for any such Report as that suggested by the hon. Member. The Commander of the Expedition is responsible for all such matters. I have no reason to suppose that the treatment of these camp followers was not what it should have been. Their losses were 43 killed, 120 missing, and 19 wounded. As to the second Question which the hon. Member has addressed to me, I have referred to Sir Gerald Graham's despatches giving an account of the operations in question to Lord Wolseley, who is in chief command of all the Forces in Egypt and the Soudan, for his opinion whether proper dispositions of the troops were made, and whether due caution was exercised.