MR. HERBERT ROBERTSTo ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will state what was the original cause of the expedition against the Waziris, and what are the conditions to be imposed with a view of preventing such outbreaks in future; whether he can give the approximate number of troops engaged in the expedition; and whether these hostilities will necessitate any permanent addition to the military expenditure of the Government of India.
(Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton.) The cause of the expedition is that serious attacks, three of which have occurred in the last six months, have been made on militia and police posts along this section of the border. The conditions to be imposed on the tribes are: Prohibition of towers which they use for offence and defence, fines, expulsion of outlaws, and the construction of a road through the territory concerned. The force employed aggregates about 2,900 men and 10 mountain guns. The operations will not involve any permanent addition to military expenditure.