§ MR. H. J. WILSON (Yorkshire, West Riding, Holmfirth)On behalf of the hon. Member for East Northamptonshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will now issue a further Return of buildings burned in each month in South Africa, from January 1901 to January 1902, with statement of reasons for such burning (in continuation of Command Paper, No. 524, of Session 1901).
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODR1CK, Surrey,Guildford)I have requested Lord Kitchener to furnish a further Return, which will be published in continuation of the Command Paper mentioned.
§ *MR. H. J. WILSONOn behalf of the hon. Member for East Northamptonshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state when the Return of farms burned by the Boers in Cape Colony, which he stated was being printed on 16th April, 1901, will be issued.
§ MR. BRODRICKI explained to the hon. Member for East Mayo on May 24th last year that the question had been misunderstood and that I replied under a misapprehension. I received a telegram from Lord Kitchener on June 17th to the following effect—
Have received the following reports of farms in Cape Colony destroyed by Boers: Aberdeen, one farm destroyed; Barkley East, no farms destroyed, but farms looted and damaged by local rebels; Barkley West, no farms destroyed, a few damaged, but doubtful whether by the enemy or by natives; Colesberg, no farms destroyed, but considerable number looted; Graaf Reinet, one homestead burnt; five houses either damaged or furniture de- 29 stroyed; Jansenville, one homestead burnt; Mafeking, 14 farms destroyed, four trading stations and railway buildings, also native hut number unknown; Prince Albert, no farms destroyed, 18 farms looted; Taungs, no farms known to have been destroyed, but three trading shops gutted and walls only standing, and properties of nearly all local farmers looted; Somerset East, one large and valuable farmhouse with furniture destroyed; Vryburg, no homesteads actually destroyed, 10 homesteads damaged, estimated loss at £900; Wodehouse, no homesteads destroyed, but some looted.The following applies to Natal—As regards damage done by the Boers to farm buildings in Natal, Compensation Committee report that there are 236 European claimants, assessed value of damage ¢:27,470, and 218 native claimants, value of damage £4,685.Further information has been promised, but owing to the nature of the operations in Cape Colony statistics are very difficult to obtain.
§ *MR. H. J. WILSONWill the right hon. Gentleman give us a Return?
§ MR. BRODRICKI have given as many Returns as I can, but it is very difficult to get accurate statistics on a point of such importance, and having regard to such large distances overrun in a short period.
MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to whether the farms were derelict or were looted by Kaffirs when they were deserted?
§ MR. BRODRICKI cannot say. That is just the point on which information is wanted in regard to each particular farm.