§ MR. S. T. EVANS (Glamorganshire, Mid)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War what is the number of British officers, non-commissioned officers, and men now prisoners of war at Pretoria; and whether any and, if so, what steps can or will be taken in the event of Pretoria being besieged by the British forces for the protection of the lives of the British prisoners of war in Pretoria, in case of failure of the Transvaal food 905 supply, and in case of the shelling of Pretoria by the British forces.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverAccording to the latest return 2,283 officers and men are "missing." We have no certain knowledge how many of them are prisoners. The matter referred to in the second paragraph of the hon. Member's question must be left to the discretion of Lord Roberts.