HC Deb 03 April 1900 vol 81 c1053
MR. FLYNN (Cork, N)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the date when Mark IV. ammunition was withdrawn, so far as Colonel Plumer's force is concerned, was early in January; and whether at Mafeking Colonel Baden-Powell has any other sort of ammunition left except Mark IV.

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. WYNDHAM,) Dover

In reply to the hon. Member, I can only give the dates and character of the orders which have been sent to South Africa. The general officer commanding was told on the 15th July to use only Mark II. ammunition for mobilisation, and on 17th October he was told to send home all Mark IV. and Mark V. ammunition in the command. We have no information of the date on which this order took effect in each part of South Africa.

MR. FLYNN

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the statement as to this ammunition was made by an officer at the front?

[No reply was given.]

MR. FLYNN

The hon. Gentleman has not answered the second paragraph.

MR. WYNDHAM

Yes; I think the answer to the first paragraph indicates the inability to answer the second.

MR. FLYNN

Are we to understand that the statement with regard to Colonel Baden-Powell is wrong?

MR. WYNDHAM

The hon. Member knows that we cannot communicate with that gallant officer.