§ MR. PIRIEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, with reference to the officers in charge of remounts in South Africa, if he can inform the House what was the regimental rank of Lieutenant-Colonel Birkbeck on his appointment by the General Officer Commanding, Cape Colony, as Assistant Inspector of Remounts in South Africa, October, 1899. After the return of Colonel Stevenson (Assistant Inspector of Remounts, Natal), in December, 1900, by order of Lord Roberts, was that post vacant until the appointment of Major General Viscount Downe, in December, 1901; and, if not, can he state by whom it was filled. And can he explain why it was not until over two years after the commencement of the war that the desirability of appointing an officer of the rank of Major General as officer in charge of remount operations in South Africa was realised.
§ MR. BRODRICKIn reply to the first paragraph, Lieutenant-Colonel Birkbeck had then the rank of Major. In
† See preceding Volume, p. 1273.164 reply to the second paragraph, both appointments were amalgamated in Lieutenant-Colonel Birkbeck. In reply to the third paragraph, an officer was sent out for inspection duty at the request of Lord Kitchener, who at the same time expressed himself as quite satisfied with the manner in which Lieutenant Colonel Birkbeck had carried out his duties.