HC Deb 01 March 1900 vol 79 c1413
MR. JEFFREYS () Hampshire, N.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state when the transport vessels will be ready to take the Eighth Division to South Africa.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover Square

There seems to be a misapprehension that the despatch of the Eighth Division had been delayed on account of the transports. The Admiralty received a semi-official requisition from the War Office for transports for this division two days ago—the official requisition yesterday. We at once asked the War Office whether five transports expected home between the 3rd and 6th March should be utilised for that purpose. The War Office agreed, and the ships will he coaled at once, and will be ready to start for the Cape with the Eighth Division between the 10th and 17th, so far as the Transport Department is concerned.