§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether Colonel Broadwood, who was in command of the column at Koornspruit, was informed that the infantry post at the waterworks had been removed by order from Lord Roberts's headquarters, and whether he has any official reports showing that the movements of Colonel Broadwood's column were determined by the belief that there was a fortified infantry post on which to fall back; and will he state who is the officer responsible for failure to communicate to Colonel Broadwood the fact that the infantry post was about to be removed.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think it would be desirable to debate in the House these details of military operations, still less by way of question and answer.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware, although he does not read the newspapers, that the name of the officer has been bruited about for months past? It is not fair to other officers.
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!