§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, seeing that the purchase and embarkation of horses for South Africa has been regulated by the demand since the beginning of the war, and that the supply has averaged over 10,000 horses per month, if he can explain why, during the months of October and November, 1900, the demand was only for 2,000 horses; does the responsibility for such a demand rest with the present or the late Commander-in-Chief in South Africa or with His Majesty's Government; and can he state how long the mobility of the South African force suffered in consequence of the average supply for these two months being 8,000 horses per month below the normal supply.
§ MR. BRODRICKIn reply to the first two paragraphs I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave the hon. Member on this subject on Thursday last.† As regards the last paragraph, I.am not aware that the mobility of the troops was thereby affected.