HC Deb 14 May 1897 vol 49 cc492-4
MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if a Roman Catholic chaplain accompanied the Irish troops now on their way to South Africa; and, was a Presbyterian clergyman sent with the Seaforth Highlanders to Crete?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

Chaplains are not, as a rule, sent with troops proceeding to a colony. Officiating clergymen of the required denomination are employed in the colony to whatever extent may be found necessary. There are no Army chaplains of any denomination in South Africa. A Presbyterian clergyman was sent with the Seaforth Highlanders to Crete as there was no probability of finding there a clergyman who could officiate.

MR. T. M. HEALY

asked why a distinction was drawn in this matter in favour of the Presbyterians and against the Roman Catholics?

MR. BRODRICK

Because the soldiers who happened to be sent to Crete were Presbyterians, and if soldiers of other denominations had been sent there we should have sent chaplains of those denominations.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Here are 800 Roman Catholic soldiers sent to South Africa. Why should nut they have a Roman Catholic chaplain just as the Presbyterians who were sent to Crete have a Presbyterian chaplain?

MR. BRODRICK

A Presbyterian chaplain was sent because there was not one in Crete. Had an Irish regiment been sent to the island a Roman Catholic chaplain would have been sent with it.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Here are 800 Roman Catholic soldiers sent to South Africa without —

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Member is arguing upon the answer. ["Hear, hear !"]

MR. H. O. ARNOLD FORSTER (Belfast, W.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War how many of the 189 men and 272 horses drafted from other batteries to complete the three batteries under orders for the Cape were, taken from the two batteries on the higher establishment and on the roster for foreign service; whether, although the, 189 men and 272 horses were taken from 20 different, batteries, no less than 27 horses and 53 men were taken from the 19th and 73rd field batteries, both of which were already under strength; and whether in case another brigade division be required for foreign service, it will be necessary to make up by drafts 63 per cent, of the men and nearly 90 per cent, of the horses required?

MR. BRODRICK

Thirty-two men and 27 horses were transferred from the two batteries on the higher establishment, and those batteries were slightly under strength. Although 272 horses were taken from home batteries, 116 were met by exchange of horses from the batteries going abroad, those horses not being thought the best for foreign service. Only 156, therefore, were really taken from the home batteries, representing 38 per cent, of the strength of horses in the three batteries for South Africa. The men drafted from home batteries were 38 per cent. As batteries on foreign service require more men and horses than high-strength batteries at home, some transfers are inevitable.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

said that the right hon. Gentleman had not answered the whole of his Question.

MR. BRODRICK

said that he believed he had done so.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

repelled a part of his Question as it stood upon the Paper.

MR. BRODRICK

said that all the material parts of the Question were replied to in his answer.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

rose amid loud cries of "Oh "and "Order" from Nationalist Members.

MR. T. M. HEALY

I rise to order, Mr. Speaker. We are stopped in putting questions, but the hon. Member opposite is allowed to go on. [Loud cries of "Order!"]

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order: The hon. Member for North Louth is entirely out of order in making suggestions of that kind, [Cheers.] The hon. Member was stopped because he was arguing upon an answer. The hon. Member for West Belfast, as I understand, is strictly confining himself so far to the, Question upon the Paper, and is stating that that Question has not been answered.

MR. T. M. HEALY

He has risen four times. [Loud cries of"Order!"

MR. J. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

, who rose amid loud cries of "Order!" said, "Order yourselves!" [Renewed cries of "Order!"]

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!