§ GENERAL LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the War Office has issued a notice stating that articles of warm clothing are specially required for the troops in South Africa, and asking that contributions should be made for this purpose; whether, inasmuch as under the conditions of the present campaign the wear and tear of the soldiers' clothing has been very exceptional, it is the intention of the War Department to require the men to replace 1057 the worn out and deficient articles at their own expense; and whether, as the exposure to cold will be exceptional, owing to the troops being actively employed in the field at a great altitude in the winter season, and the House of Commons has refused no request for funds to properly supply the troops with all requirements, he will cause the men to be supplied with such warm clothing as the climate requires at the public expense instead of appealing to their friends for contributions.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI must refer my hon. and gallant friend to my reply to a question put by the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire on the 26th of March.* All necessary articles are supplied by the War Office and replaced as required.