SIR HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the increasing difficulty of adequately providing for the comfort of the wives and children of 1449 reservists still in the field; and, having regard to the numbers of men that may have to be kept in South Africa for two years to come, if he will consider the desirability of preparing adequate relieving forces so as to avoid the necessity of doing so under conditions of pressure and at such cost as in January, 1900 and 1901.
§ *MR. BRODRICKIn reply to the first part of the question, I must refer my hon. and gallant friend to my reply to a question put by the hon. Member for the Rushcliffe division of Nottinghamshire on the 2nd instant.† In regard to the second part of the question, it is not proposed at present to add to the number of men in South Africa.