MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War who is responsible for the establishment in South Africa of the Military Sales Department alluded to at page 236 of the Report on the Army Appropriation Account of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, and when was it established; who was responsible for the conduct of this department; does the responsibility for this department extend beyond the officers of the department itself up to the general officer commanding, and who were the general officers commanding in South Africa when the department was established and during its proceedings up to October, 1902; and is the general officer commanding responsible for the department, of the Director of Supplies, who conducted the sales of surplus stores after October, 1902, and in 1903.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe Military Sales Department was established in June, 1902, by General Lord Kitchener, who placed the organisation under the charge of Colonel Morgan, of the Army Service Corps. The general officer commanding is responsible for the conduct of this department, as of all others in his command. The general officer commanding is generally responsible, as stated, for 700 the conduct of the department of the Director of Supplies. The general officer commanding in South Africa when the department was established on June 18th, 1902, was General Lord Kitchener. He was succeeded on June 23rd, 1902, by Lieutenant-General Sir Neville Lyttelton.