§ MR. NUSSEY (Pontefract)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, in view of the modern system of defence by barbed wire, have the regular troops, rank and file, either infantry or cavalry, or both, been provided by the War Office with wire cutters; and, if so, what troops exactly, and how many wire-cutters have been sent out to South Africa, and on what date or dates, and by what ship or ships; and, if not already sent, how many wire-snippers have been ordered, from what firm or firms, on what date, and of what weight and size are the wire-snippers?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMAbout 4,000 wire-cutters have been sent out, and more are being sent out as fast as they can be obtained from the trade. During the present pressure of business in the War Office no attempt can be made to work 265 out the minute details included in this question.