§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India a question of which I have only been able to give him brief private notice, but which is of special urgency, as affecting the lives of our troops. The question is to ask whether the attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to the telegrams in the Times of yesterday as to the deaths, sickness, and suffering among the troops, English and native, engaged in the Chin-Lushai Expedition; whether the right hon. Gentleman can make any statement to the House on the subject; and whether the Secretary of State will cause full inquiry to be made?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir JOHN GORST, Chatham)I only received notice of this question as I was leaving the India Office for the House, and I am afraid I am unable to give the hon. Member a full or satisfactory answer. So far as I am able to speak from a cursory perusal of the Reports that have come from India as to this expedition, mention is made in those Reports of considerable sickness and mortality among the troops engaged, and of certain remedial measures that have been adopted, but I am not in a position at this moment to give any detailed information. As to the statements in the Times' telegrams, I will look into the matters referred to, and, if necessary, further inquiry shall be made.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the information he has shows that a large number of deaths were caused by the improper encampment of the troops?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTI have no information that shows that, but if the hon. Member will repeat his question to-morrow, I will give him more explicit and detailed information.