§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD - BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies—(1) what steps Her Majesty's 1051 Government are taking to expedite the conveyance of food supplies to Rhodesia; (2) what progress is being made with the railway line from Mafeking to Buluwayo; and (3) whether Her Majesty's Government will hold fresh military forces in readiness at the termini of the railway lines approaching Rhodesia, so that they can be sent forward as soon as the supplies are increased?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe officials of the British South Africa Company and the Imperial military authorities in South Africa are straining every nerve to increase the foodstuffs in the country. I may mention that I am making inquiries as to the possibility of employing camels for transport, but without much hope that such a step will be found feasible. The rails of the Mafeking-Gaberones line had reached the 53-mile 40-chain peg on June 20. I understand that the progress since then has been at a rapid rate. In reply to the third paragraph of the question, I have to say that it is a question for the discretion of the local military authorities how many troops should be kept at the terminus of the Mafeking line in readiness to be pushed forward and bow many should be kept at the Cape.