§ MR. CUBITT (Surrey, Reigate)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the percentage of losses in horses on the transport "America" on her first voyage to the Cape; whether, upon her arrival at Southampton last week from Glasgow, where she had embarked horses for a second voyage, there was so much sickness among the horses that all had to be disembarked; and, whether it is intended to reimbark these horses on the same ship together with others, and if so, if he can state when the vessel will sail.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe "America," a vessel of 5,158 tons, carrying 276 horses, has made two voyages to the Cape; on the first the losses were 4 per cent., on the second 24 per cent., owing to heavy weather at starring. No 1308 complaints of any moment have been received in regard to her. About half the horses for conveyance on her third voyage (Lord Lovat's Corps) were embarked at Glasgow, and on the voyage to Southampton pink eye broke out among them, rendering it necessary to land them at Southampton and disinfect the ship. The outbreak was in no way duo to the transport, and it is proposed by the War Office to embark other horses as soon as the ship is ready to receive them. The date of sailing cannot yet be fixed.