§ SIR HENRY HAVELOCK-ALLAN, (Durham, S. E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can inform the House what steps are being taken to obtain and organise a transport train which is necessary to enable food to be collected at Mafeking, and thus allow the reinforcements by Imperial troops and others of the small forces now at the disposal of Sir Frederick Carrington for the operations against the rebels in the Matoppo Hills, which operations appear likely to be seriously prolonged if the available transport cannot be shortly assembled to feed the troops engaged?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.I can only repeat that the British South Africa Company and the Imperial military authorities are straining every nerve to increase the foodstuffs in the country. Even the rinderpest regulations in the protectorate will be relaxed if it can be done with safety in order to facilitate the sending forward of food supplies. I have under consideration the feasibility of employing camels.