§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether a number of invalids and 500 women and children, the wives and families of soldiers in South Africa, were landed at Southampton on the 15th December from the transport "Jelunga"; whether the women and children were in a destitute condition; whether any nurse was on board, and whether six children died of cold and exposure; whether 10 women and 36 children, the wives and children of the men of the 18th Hussars and 5th Lancers, on reaching London on disembarkation from the "Jelunga," had to pass the night in the railway station at Waterloo because there was no train to, take them to Canterbury; and what explanation, if any, has the Secretary of State to give of this incident.
§ MR. WYNDHAMAbout 500 wives and children of soldiers were landed from the transport "Jelunga." They were not in a destitute condition, but they were in a very neglected condition, owing to the want of a sufficient staff on board to look after them. It would, no doubt, have been difficult for the General Officer commanding at Cape Town to provide a sufficient staff, but the Secretary of State for War is of opinion that proper care was not taken, and a reprimand has been accordingly sent to Cape Town. No nurse was on board. Six children died in the course of the voyage; they did not die of cold and exposure, since they died in the tropics. The women were periodically asked throughout the voyage whether they had any complaints to make, and they made none on the subject of their accommodation. The staff officer at Southampton and the officer of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association made every effort to help the women on their arrival; all were asked if they wanted money, and all said they had it. Ten women and 36 children had to spend the night at Waterloo because the London and South-Western train arrived too late to admit of their catching the train to Canterbury. I have answered this question at length because the Secretary of State regards the incident as most regrettable, and is anxious that it should be fully explained to the House. As I have said, care has been taken to impress upon those concerned the necessity of avoiding such mistakes in future.