§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of Boer invaders and of British troops respectively in the Cape Colony at the present time, in what districts of the colony and within what distance of Cape Town are the invaders operating, and in what numbers have they been joined by British subjects; and whether the civil courts are open throughout the whole of that portion of the country which is untouched by the invasion, and upon what grounds that portion is still subjected to martial law, and how long it is proposed to continue the administration of martial law.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordI do not think it is desirable to give this information. The institution of martial law in the Cape Colony was necessary in all districts which were either invaded or
*See page 816.990 open to invasion, and it will be continued so long as circumstances may require it.