§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the attention of the War Office authorities has been directed to the form of the cablegram from the General of Communications, Cape Town, dated 10th June, announcing the capture at Roodeval of the 4th Battalion of the Derbyshire Regiment on June 7th, in which a short list of casualties several days old forms the bulk of the telegram, while the capture by the Boers of a whole battalion is announced at the end of the message, which stated that Stoneham reported many severely wounded, and remaining 4th Derbyshire and details prisoners, except six rank and file in his camp; whether there is any, and, if so, what explanation of the fact that the casualties were made the main feature of the message, and the capture of a whole battalion a minor incident: and whether directions, as in the case of despatches, will be given to make telegraphic communications with reference to the operations of the troops intelligible.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMAt the time of despatch of the telegram the General Officer commanding the line of communications was not in possession of any details of the disaster beyond the message from Major Stoneham, the medical officer of the captured hospital, which contained merely a list of casualties. The General Officer forwarded the only information then at his disposal.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWill the hon. Gentleman tell the General Officer in future not to put the cart before the horse?