HC Deb 09 July 1906 vol 160 cc501-2
MR. LANE-FOX (Yorkshire, W.R. Earkston Ash)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his atten- tion has been called to the deficiency in transport in connection with the Bloemfontein garrison; whether he is aware that when the Artillery brigade goes into camp the rest of the force are practically left without any transport at all; that such waggons as are available are of different patterns and not interchangeable in their parts; and that one battalion of infantry has no mobilisation equipment whatever; and whether he will take steps to remedy such deficiencies at an early date.

MR. HALDANE

There is no deficiency of transport in connection with the Bloemfontein garrison, and the hon. Member must to under a misapprehension as to the rest of the force being left without transport when the Artillery Brigade goes into camp. The transport wagons are the local pattern buck wagons and are in every way satisfactory. All the Infantry battalions in South Africa ire in process of being completed with mobilisation equipment.