§ 22. Sir REGINALD POLE-CAREWasked the Secretary of State for War whether any records exist showing approximate wastage in horses during the Franco-German war; and whether he would state the losses on either side?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)No statistics of the French losses are available. On the German side the loss of horses in action, killed, wounded, and missing amounted to 14,595. No returns are given of losses from disease, but these losses have been estimated to amount to about 26,000.
§ 23. Sir R. POLE-CAREWasked what was the wastage in horses during the first twelve months of the Boer war; and what was the proportion of remounts sent during that period to South Africa from the United Kingdom and abroad, respectively?
§ Colonel SEELYThere are no figures available to show the actual wastage for the first year of the war or the number of remounts sent to South Africa during that period. Figures showing the numbers of horses sent to South Africa during the war will be found in Appendices 38 and 38a to the Report of the Commission on that war, Cd. 1789 of 1903; but it must be remembered that these numbers do not represent wastage only, but include horses required for newly raised corps of Irregulars and Mounted Infantry.
§ Sir R. POLE-CAREWCan the right hon. Gentleman give us the numbers?
§ Colonel SEELYNo. There are no figures available at the War Office for the period asked for. The full numbers will be found in the Blue Book.
§ Sir R. POLE-CAREWCan the right hon. Gentleman give me the numbers in the Blue Book?
§ Colonel SEELYI have not got the numbers. If I had I would give them.
§ Sir R. POLE-CAREWHow can I find out the numbers in the Blue Book?
§ Mr. KILBRIDEDoes the wastage of horses spoken of as occurring during the South African war include the mares in foal that were sent from Austria-Hungary?