§ 95. Sir ARTHUR FELLasked the Postmaster-General if he can arrange for the carriage of telegrams to Paris by the ordinary daily train, by which they would reach Paris in ten hours and might be delivered at once without the delay of two three, and even four days which takes place now when they are telegraphed over by wire; and if they could be sent to Rome and other places by train at great saving of time?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHOwing to interruptions on the cables and land-wires and to the shortness of staff and the great pressure of traffic it has been necessary to send a considerable number of telegrams between London and Paris in both directions by train, in order to obviate the greater delay which would arise if they were retained for transmission by wire. But several additional wires have recently, or will shortly, become available; and I 917 trust that it will soon no longer be necessary to send telegrams between this country and France otherwise than by telegraph, and that the present heavy delays will cease. The French lines have suffered more damage from storms than the English.
§ Sir A. FELLIs the right hon. Gentleman, aware that this has gone on for more than two years, and that frequently letters arrive from Paris before a telegram sent off at the same time?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHIt has been going on more or less ever since the beginning of the War.