§ SIR JOHN COLOMB (Tower Hamlets, Bow)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what is the total strength, all ranks, of the regular forces of Staff Cavalry, Field Artillery, Garrison Artillery, Engineers, and Infantry respectively now serving in Cape Colony; what is the approximate total annual cost borne by the taxpayers of the United Kingdom for such forces now quartered in Cape Colony; what portion of the total force is for garrison duty at coaling stations situated in Cape Colony, and what is the approximate estimate of its annual cost; and, whether the remainder of the Imperial Forces not required for garrison duty at such ports are retained in Cape Colony for purposes of internal order within the limits of Cape Colony, or for special general service when required beyond such limits?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE,) Lincolnshire, HorncastleThe strength of the several arms in Cape Colony on the 1st of May (which is the latest return received) was, Staff, five; Cavalry, three; Artillery, 240; Engineers, 103; Infantry, 991; Departmental Corps, 66; total—1,408. The cost of this force, including home charges for depots, pensions, &c., is £142,000, towards which the Cape Colony makes no contribution. The troops are required for the defence of the Imperial coaling stations, but they would, of course, be available in case of internal disturbance. I may add that the military unit of command is not Cape Colony, but South Africa; and that a regiment of Cavalry, with perhaps some Mounted Infantry, will be 872 kept in South Africa for frontier purposes generally.
§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)Have applications been made to the Cape Government to pay a portion of the expenses?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEI do not think in recent years any such application has been made to the Cape Government, but there have been repeated applications for other contributions towards Imperial Defence, which, I am sorry to say, have not generally been responded to.