§ *SIR JOHN COLOMB () Great YarmouthI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty how many troops were carried by Her Majesty's ship "Powerful" from the Mauritius to South Africa; on what date did she reach a South African port; and how many days has she been at sea, and how many days in harbour. I beg also to ask what number of troops, if any, Her Majesty's ship "Terrible" carried to South Africa; on 360 what date did she first arrive at a South African port; and since that date how many days has she been at sea, and how many days in harbour.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareThe number of troops carried by the "Powerful" from Mauritius to South Africa was 448. She arrived at Durban on 10th October, 1899. The "Terrible" carried no troops, but a considerable number of supernumeraries, mostly destined for the China Station. She arrived at Simon's Bay on 14th October, 1899. We have no information as to the actual time these vessels have been at sea since the date of their arrival in South African waters, but except when they were proceeding between Simon's Bay and Durban they have mainly been stationed in or off those ports.