§ Mr. FELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Mullah in Somaliland is preparing an attack on Berbera or on the friendly natives; and what troops have been sent to assure the safety of our zone of occupation in that country?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)I have no reason for supposing that the Mullah is preparing an attack on Berbera, but one of the periodic skirmishes between him and the Friendlies has recently taken place. These skirmishes, as the hon. Member may be aware, are sometimes a success for the dervishes and sometimes for the Friendlies. On the present occasion, however, the dervishes have been more than usually successful, and it has been considered advisable, as a measure of precaution, to strengthen the garrison at Berbera by some 300 men from Aden.
§ Mr. HARCOURTCertainly not.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Mullah has recovered from his last "death"?
§ Mr. HARCOURTI believe the report was grossly exaggerated.