§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the composition of the mounted troops under Lord Mothuen in the recent engagement.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (MR. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe mounted troops were composed as follows:—Major Paris's Column, whose composition was understood to be: Royal Field Artillery, Diamond Fields Artillery, Ashburner's Light Horse, Denison's Scouts, Diamond Fields Horse: to which were added the detachments, Cape Police, 5th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, 86th Squadron Imperial Yeomanry; detachments, British South Africa Police, Cullinan's Horse.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONIs the House to understand that there were no Regular British cavalry with the force, and that these are the men who are receiving 5s. a day?
§ COLONEL WELBY (Taunton)Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these mounted troops were armed with the sword or not?
§ MR. BRODRICKAny course prescribed by the General Officer commanding in South Africa in regard to the 162 arming of mounted troops will be followed, but it has been thought desirable to arm the mounted troops with the rifle, and that has been done up to the present time.