§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)asked the Postmaster General, Whether it is true that the cable between Guernsey and Alderney has been broken for some months past; whether there are, besides the 2,000 inhabitants of the island, a half battalion of Her Majesty's troops (the Gordon Highlanders) and a battery of the Royal Artillery stationed there; whether the Island is within a few miles of the French Coast, and might be captured and in the possession of an enemy for some days (Wednesdays to Mondays) before information could reach Guernsey and England; and, whether he will take immediate stops to have the cable repaired?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)the telegraph cable between Guernsey and Alderney was broken in December, and will, it is hoped, be repaired early in May. The delay in restoring communication is due to the danger of employing a cable-repairing ship in such sea during the stormy weather of the winter.