MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether Captain Fife has been appointed to go to New Orleans, and Captain Tremayne to go to the Argentine Republic to purchase horses for the Army; whether he can state how many horses it is intended to purchase in those 687 foreign countries; and whether he is aware that in the opinion of experts Irish horses are more suitable and at the same time cheaper than imported animals.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS,) Birmingham, S.Captain Fife has been sent to New Orleans to purchase horses, and Captain Tremayne has been sent to Argentina to take charge of horses on board ship. I am not prepared to state the number of horses to be purchased in foreign countries. In regard to Irish horses, I have on previous occasions explained to the House that trained horses of suitable age are very difficult to obtain in Ireland, but about 5,000 have been purchased there, as already stated.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANWill the hon. Gentleman say how much these foreign countries have contributed to the cost of the war?
§ [No answer was given.]