§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI wish to ask, Whether the Government have any information with regard to a matter mentioned yesterday in some newspapers as to the reported fall of Kassala?
LORD EDMOND FITZMA URICENo information has been received of the fall of Kassala, but only a telegram received from Sir Evelyn Baring, forwarding a telegram received by him from Consul Baker at Suakin, in which it was stated that it was rumoured at Suakin that Kassala had fallen, but there was no reliable news either at Suakin or Cairo.
§ SIR FREDERICK MILNERasked, Whether it was not the case that the Governor of Suakin had received intelligence from Kassala, that the garrison was still holding out, and that two more attempts upon the town had been repulsed, but that as famine was present in the garrison, and that the ammunition was failing fast, it was impossible to hold out beyond the end of March; and, whether, under those deplorable circumstances, in the interests of humanity and for the honour of England, Her Majesty's Government would not make some effort even now to relieve these heroic men, and thus to save the country from the indelible disgrace which the massacre of the garrison must entail upon us?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE,in reply, said, that with regard to the statement of fact contained in the Question, his reply was in the affirmative, that such information had been received.