§ LORD KNUTSFORDI desire to ask whether the Government can give the House any further information about Chitral?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord REAY)Beyond the information given to the House on the 21st instant, in reply to Lord Cross's question, and a report identical with that which appeared in the newspapers about the melancholy loss of Captain Ross and his party near Boni, the Secretary of State has no information. It is believed that the British Agent with 300 men is still invested in the Chitral Fort, and the Government of India have reported that the Chitral relief force will be despatched as soon as it can be made ready—by April 1, if possible. So far as the Secretary of State is aware, the Govern- 2 ment of India have not recognised anyone as the new Mehtar of Chitral. It is not known for certain where Umra Khan is, but he is supposed to be still in Chitral territory. Some of his men are reported by Lieutenant Jones to be holding the Fort of Drassan, to the north of Chitral. No information has been received from Dr. Robertson direct of later date than March 1.