§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)To ask the Secretary of State for War if there exists any Parliamentary Paper showing the hutting accommodation being provided for permanent garrisons at various stations in South Africa other than Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Simon's Bay, Ladysmith. and Durban; what force is to be kept at Potchefstroom, Standerton, Middleburg, Kroonstadt, and Harrismith respectively; at what number of stations it is intended to keep troops; and whether military advice has been the basis of the decision as to the dispersal of troops.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold Forster.) (1) No Parliamentary Paper has been issued showing the hutting accommodation which is being provided for the permanent garrison for South Africa. (2) The force to be kept at the stations specified in the second Question is as follows:—Potchefstroom: one regiment cavalry, three batteries, Royal Field Artillery, one field company, Royal Engineers, one battalion infantry, Line. Standerton: one regiment mounted infantry, one battery, Royal Field Artillery (and Brigade Head Quarters), one battalion infantry. Royal Garrison Regiment. Middleburg (Transvaal): one regiment mounted infantry, one battery, Royal Field Artillery, one and a half battalions infantry. Line. Kroonstadt: nil. Middleburg (Cape Colony): one regiment cavalry, three batteries, Royal Field Artillery, one field company, Royal Engineers, one battalion infantry. Line. Harrismith: one regiment mounted infantry, one battery Royal Field Artillery, one battalion infantry, Royal Garrison Regiment. (3) The following stations in addition to the above have been allotted permanent garrisons. Pretoria: one regiment cavalry, two batteries, Royal Horse Artillery, one field troop, one field company, one telegraph section, Royal Engineers, two battalions infantry, Line, one battalion infantry, Royal Garrison Regiment. Bloemfontein: one regiment cavalry, three batteries, Royal Field Artillery, one field company, Royal Engineers, two battalions infantry Line, 302 one battalion infantry, Royal Garrison Regiment. Barberton: one half battalion infantry, Line. Naval Base (Capo Colony): two companies, Royal Garrison Artillery, one fortress company, Royal Engineers, two battalions infantry, Line. (4) The above distribution of the troops is based on military advice.