§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether there is any early prospect of further troops coming back from Africa; if so, whether the 1st Battalion of Inniskilling Fusiliers, sent for a further period of service in Cape Colony, are to be kept at Middle-burg; and whether, seeing that this regiment has been fighting in Natal and 1494 afterwards in the Transvaal, and has had 12 officers and 192 non-commissioned officers and men killed in action, and that the 2nd Battalion of the regiment is now at Mafeking, and that this is the only regiment since the peace which has both battalions in Africa, will he state how long will the 1st Battal on of the Inniskillings be kept at Middleburgh; and will he explain why have they been sent to this station, and on what principle has an Irish regiment been selected for so much duty, seeing that the Guards and other English regiments were allowed home soon after the peace.
§ MR. BRODRICKWill the hon. and learned Member kindly refer to my reply to a Question put on this subject by the hon. Member for Midlothian on the 27th ultimo?†
§ MR. T. M. HEALYThe explanation was so unsatisfactory that I thought it necessary to repeat the Question. I think the Irish. Members are entitled to some explanation of the exceptional treatment meted out to this Irish regiment.
§ MR. BRODRICKAll regiments are treated exactly on the same footing. There is not the smallest desire to treat this regiment unfairly.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYThen why is it that both battalions of this regiment have been sent to the most unpleasant places in South Africa, after hundreds of the men have been killed and wounded in the war, while the English Guards were allowed to come home?
§ MR. BRODRICKA good many officers would prefer to have both battalions in South Africa.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYBut this regiment has been sent to the most unhealthy and unpleasant places in South Africa. It is their reward for valour.