§ MR. TOTTENHAMasked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, If it is true that the 20th Hussars' departure from Aldershot for Egypt was delayed in consequence of the wrong equipment having been sent down to them from the Clothing Department; and, whether the regiment eventually inarched out in Infantry helmets, and mixed equipment; and, if so, who was to blame for the occurrence?
§ MR. BRAND,in reply, said, no report had been received by the War Office that the 20th Hussars had been delayed in consequence of a mistake in their equipment; and, as a matter of fact, it was not the case.
§ MR. TOTTENHAMasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the 20th Hussars and 5th Lancers were among the regiments first on the roster for Foreign Service; and, if so, why only two squadrons of each regiment are being despatched to Egypt; and, what is the strength of the remaining squadrons in effective men and horses, and whether they are equally fit for Foreign Service as the squadrons which are now embarking?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONFour squadrons only were required, and it was considered desirable that two squadrons should be Lancers. Therefore, two squadrons were taken from the first Hussar regiment on the roster and two from the first Lancer regiment. The states of the remaining squadrons have not been yet received.
§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTasked whether the squadrons of Lancers and the squadrons of Hussars were together as one regiment?