§ MR. A. O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether information has yet reached the Colonial Office from Sierra Leone as to the position of some of the military forces about 12 miles from Port Lokko in the direction of Karena; and whether he has learnt that these forces are encamped in the open under grass huts which do not protect them from the tropical rains, that they are dependent for drinking water upon a putrid stream; that according to the last advices a majority of the officers and a large proportion of the men were down with fever; and that, the force was in such a condition as to be unable to offer any effective resistance against possible native attack?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESAccording to the latest information which I have received the country in question has been traversed through and through, and the powers of resistance of the principal insurgent chief are completely broken. I have received no report giving particulars of the condition of the forces in that 959 district, but as the unhealthy season has now begun no doubt there is some sickness among them.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORWill the right honourable Gentleman endeavour to obtain further information as to the position of affairs? Seeing there is every assurance that the native resistance has been overcome, is it necessary that the officers and men should be kept in the swamp?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESIt is clearly the duty of the Governor and the officers in charge to give full information of any matter of the kind, but I do not think it is generally desirable to telegraph for further information, over and above what has been received, unless there is some reason to suppose that they are keeping back information, which I do not think there is.