§ MR. WARR (Liverpool, East Toxteth)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the losses which have recently taken place in the animals of the transport service in South Africa, the War Office are providing any of the modern forms of steam or mechanical haulage engines, so as to test whether they can supplement or supersede animal haulage for military transport service.
*THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS,) Birmingham, S.The importance of mechanical haulage has not been lost sight of, and there are more than 1398 twenty traction engines now successfully employed on transport purposes in South Africa. Lord Roberts will consider to what extent additional means of traction of this character can be usefully adopted, regard being had to the nature of the country.