§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a public statement of General Lord Dundonald to the effect that hundreds of our soldiers are buried in South Africa today who would have been alive had proper water-carts been supplied; and can he state who was responsible for the type of water-carts selected; and what steps, if any, he intends to take in the matter.
§ MR. BRODRICKI have seen the statement in question. The barrel water-carts alluded to in the statement have been superseded, after due inquiry and experiment, since 1895 by tank water-carts, and nearly all the water-carts sent to South Africa have been of the latter pattern, though a few of the former were also sent. Printed forms were sent to South Africa requesting the opinion of officers on all articles of equipment used there. This equipment, with others, will be considered in the light of the replies.
§ MR. DALZIELDo I understand that the water-carts condemned by Lord Dundonald have been changed?
§ MR. BRODRICKI can give no further information.
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cc178-9
- SOUTH AFRICA—JAMESON RAID INDEMNITY—CHARTERED COMPANY'S COUNTERCLAIM. 366 words cc179-80
- GOVERNMENT'S KNOWLEDGE BEFORE THE WAR OF ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE TWO REPUBLICS. 157 words c180
- TREATMENT OF BOER WOMEN AND CHILDREN. 159 words c180
- PROGRESS OF THE WAR. 20 words
- ARMY WATER-CARTS—GENERAL DUNDONALD'S STATEMENT.