§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR () Wicklow, W.I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to an extract from a letter from Trooper G. Benton, of the 12th Lancers, to his father (who resides at Whaplode, Spalding), in which, writing from Enslin Camp on 19th January, he says that they (the 12th Lancers) burn and blow up houses which the Free Staters have left behind, and that the furniture and pianos are set fire to and destroyed; and whether the attention of the Commander-in-Chief in South Africa will be called to the destruction by British troops of houses and property in the Orange Free State.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThere is no official confirmation of the statement referred to. The proclamation recently issued by Lord Roberts shows clearly that the troops are not permitted to interfere with the property of the inhabitants of the Orange Free State, provided they are peaceful and do not resist Her Majesty's forces.