§ SIR J. COLOMB (Yarmouth)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any force from Her Majesty's ships has been landed in South Africa for service in the field; and, if so, what is the total number of blue-jackets, marine artillery, and marine infantry respectively; what is the proportion of officers to men in each branch of the force so employed; and who is in immediate command of the whole force; I beg also to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the senior officer of the marine forces serving on the Cape naval station has passed the Staff College, and was subsequently employed as an instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
MR. GOSCHENI must apologise to my hon. and gallant friend, for, owing to 764 an accident, I have not here the answer to these questions. But I may say that I doubt whether the Admiralty has full details as to the total number of blue-jackets, marine artillery, and marine infantry who have been landed in South Africa for service in the field. From memory I cannot give the proportion of the officers to the men of the force; neither can I say whether it will be kept together or distributed.
§ *SIR J. COLOMBWith regard to a naval officer being in command, may I ask who is responsible when the specially qualified marine officer is not in command of the force?
MR. GOSCHENThe responsibility of selecting the officer to command rests with the Admiral, with whose discretion I should not interfere.