§ General LAURIEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the daily forage ration allowed to cavalry and artillery officers in South Africa was ever fixed at 6 lb. oats and 4 lb. hay per horse; if so, how long this regulation was in force, and under whose advice it was so established; whether any protests as to the insufficiency of this allowance, which is less than half the forage ration issued in this country, were made by officers commanding cavalry regiments and batteries of artillery or by the generals, under whose command they served whether any change has been made in the quantity allowed per horse; and whether it is recognised that horses picketed in the open air, and more particularly in a changeable climate, require a larger quantity of food than horses kept in stables.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThe daily ration fixed by general orders in South Africa is 12 lb. grain or 2 lb. hay in lieu of each pound of grain up to a maximum of 8 lb. Nothing is known of the ration alluded to in the question or of any protest against it. The only change made was an addition of 2 lb. of grain and hay at depots near the coast when sufficient quantities are procurable. The supplies, available at the base are ample.
§ General LAURIEHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been called to a letter in The Times, dated Cape Town,. 15th June, in which it is stated that while this short ration was being issued, forage was actually being burned?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThe ration depends not so much on the amount laid down in the regulations, but on the possibility of supplying it during these rapid marches.