HC Deb 16 March 1910 vol 15 cc332-3
Captain BARING

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies, whether he had any information that another raid had been made by the Mullah in Somaliland, since the statement made to the House by the Home Secretary on behalf of the Colonial Office on 3rd March; and whether the tribes that, suffered were nominally under British protection?

The UNDER-SECRETARY for the COLONIES (Colonel Seely)

A telegram from the Commissioner was received on 5th March reporting that a small party, consisting of Dervish horsemen, had raided the Habr Tolgala—a tribe nominally under British protection—near Wandad Ferry. About 100 camels were taken, and three men were killed.

Sir GILBERT PARKER

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman now lay Papers in connection with the visit of the Sirdar to Somaliland?

Colonel SEELY

Yes, Papers will be laid shortly. I cannot give the exact date.

Mr. REES

Is it not desirable that British Protection should be less nominal and more actual?

Colonel SEELY

That depends of course upon the number of troops that you have in any place and the hostility of the people in the country. I do not think we could undertake to protect everyone in Somaliland. That is quite impossible without an amount of force that no one has ever proposed.

Captain BARING

Has General Manning full discretion to deal with these raids as they arise?

Colonel SEELY

General Manning has full discretion to deal with all military policy in Somaliland.