§ * MR. SETON-KARR (St. Helens)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, in view of the sickness and loss of life suffered by the 17th and 18th Battalions of Imperial Yeomanry in May last, owing to their prolonged detention in a fever district through the breakdown of the Beira Railway Transport, whether he can now state the results of the inquiry that has been made into the said breakdown and consequent delay; 670 and whether he can give the number of men from the two battalions who have died or have been invalided home in consequence of malarial fever and sickness contracted during such delay; also if he will state whether the Beira Railway was under the control of the military authorities during the time of the breakdown and delay; how such control was exercised; and to what extent and to whom he attributes the responsibility for the said breakdown.
§ * MR. BRODRICKI am afraid that I cannot, in a reply to a question, explain in full detail the causes of the delay which undoubtedly caused much sickness and a certain loss of life, which I need not tell my hon. friend is deeply deplored, and which can only be justified by the urgent military necessity of the expedition. I have already written my hon. friend in considerable detail on this question and will lay Sir Frederick Carrington's despatch regarding it among, the other despatches, so that the House may have the fullest information.
§ * MR. SETON-KARRI shall take the earliest opportunity of laying a statement before the House on this subject.