HC Deb 24 October 1899 vol 77 c574
SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)

May I ask the Leader of the House, or the Under Secretary for War, whether the Government have any news from South Africa to communicate to the House.

*MR. WYNDHAM

In reply I have to say that the Commander-in-Chief Lord Wolseley, sums up the situation as follows— Forenoon, October 24th, 1899—General Yule has fallen back to effect a junction with General White. He camped yesterday evening about sixteen miles south of Dundee, without seeing, during his march, anything of the enemy, and has since been reported all well on the Waschbank river. General White has fought a successful action with an Orange Free State force to-day on the road between Ladysmith and Newcastle, and should join hands with General Yule this evening. General Yule reports that his wounded are doing well. The Boer wounded in our hands are treated just as our wounded are, and I have every reason to believe that the Boers will treat any of our wounded in their hands in a similarly humane manner. That, Sir, is Lord Wolseley's communication. Perhaps I may remind the House that the South African Republic is a party to the Geneva Convention. We have the following despatch from General Sir F. Forestier-Walker, general officer commanding at the Cape, received 2.30 p.m., October 24th; at Cape Town, October 24th, 1.5 p.m.— Last message from Kimberley, dated October 22nd, 2 p.m., reports 'All well.'