HC Deb 08 May 1896 vol 40 c881
MR. J. GRETTON (Derbyshire, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has information of the number of rifles in the possession of the Matabele insurgents; and if he can state whence the supplies of rifles and ammunition were obtained?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.

I answered a similar question to this a few days ago, and I am sorry to say I have no further information to give—that is to say, I do not know what number of rifles the Matabele possess, nor whence their supplies of rifles and ammunition have been obtained, excepting the small amount which were in the hands of the native police who joined the insurgents.