THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY—TRANSPORT. (Hansard, 6 February 1900)

VISCOUNT GALWAY
My Lords, before asking the question standing in my name, as to the transport of the Imperial Yeomanry to the Cape, may I be allowed to mention, as one who had advocated the claims of the Yeomanry for many years, the great satisfaction it gave the Yeomanry force to be called upon to take their share in the defence of the Empire abroad? The Yeomanry force some years ago was threatened with extinction, but, despite every discouragement, we persevered and endeavoured to make ourselves more efficient every year. We kept up our organisation, and the result has been that when an appeal came we were able to answer it in what I hope the noble Marquess will agree has been a highly satisfactory manner. In view of what has been said in the country I think it is only fair that I should state that the companies which have been sent out comprise thoroughly qualified horsemen and certified marksmen. While nobody grudges the unstinted praise which has been given to all our colonies, who have so loyally come to our assistance, I think one word from those in authority of commendation of the patriotic spirit displayed by the Yeomanry and the Volunteers would have the result of greatly encouraging us in our efforts. I am not raising this as a personal matter, because the company I sent out left England ten days ago, but I desire to call attention to the disappointment which is felt by the Yeomanry on account of the delay in conveying them to the front. This delay causes not only great disappointment to the men, but also entails heavy expense upon those connected 689 with the force. I desire to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is correct that no further Yeomanry will leave for the Cape for another three weeks, and to urge upon him the desirability of expediting the sending out of this force to the front.

THE EARL OF CORK
My Lords, before the noble Marquess the Secretary of State for War answers the question which has just been put, I wish entirely to endorse the remarks of my noble friend as to the great disappointment with which the Yeomanry heard the announcement that they would not leave for the Cape for another three weeks. I can speak more positively of the west of England, but there are a great many companies in many parts of England who have been mobilised for three weeks or a month. Most of them have been billeted in towns, and cannot, therefore, be in such a satisfactory condition as if they were quartered in barracks. I hope the noble Marquess will be able to assure us that the delay will not be as long as three weeks, and that he will do all he can to hasten the transport of the Yeomanry Regiments, or, at all events, that pending their embarkation steps will be taken to provide accommodation in barracks for those companies which are at present billeted in many parts of England.

§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE
My Lords, the position in regard to the embarkation of the Imperial Yeomanry is as follows:—Ships have been already allotted for 3,000 men and 2,000 horses, and the whole will have embarked by the 11th of this month. I am afraid it will be at least a fortnight before we can expect another embarkation to take place. I will certainly do all I can to expedite matters, but my noble friend must be aware that the provision of horse ships is not a very simple or easy matter. I am very sorry that there should have been any disappointment in the case of the companies to which he and the noble Earl opposite have referred, but I am afraid that the disappointment was inevitable. I may, perhaps, tell the House briefly what the procedure is with regard to the provision of transports. The Yeomanry Committee, to whom reference has already been made this evening, reports to the War Office from time to time the number of companies likely to be ready to 690 embark on a given date. The War Office then at once places itself in communication with the Admiralty. In the case of the companies who have been referred to this evening, the Yeomanry Committee advised us on the 29th of January that a certain number of companies would be ready to embark on the 8th February. My noble friend will, I am sure, admit that the margin of time was not a very liberal one, but I think something might have been done for them had it not been that at that very moment we had to ask the Admiralty to find ships for the cavalry brigade which had been ordered at rather short notice to go to South Africa. That absorbed all the available ships, with the result, I am afraid, that several companies of Yeomanry who had been looking forward to an early start for the seat of war were greatly disappointed. I deeply regret the disappointment to those companies, but, as I said before, I am afraid it could scarcely be avoided under the circumstances. I think I have told my noble friend all I have to say about the matter. He expressed a wish that some word of encouragement should be spoken on the part of Her Majesty's Government showing how greatly we appreciate the manner in which this call for assistance from the Yeomanry has been met. I have already said this evening how deeply we appreciate it; and I can assure my noble friend that this is the feeling of my colleagues, and that we do very readily acknowledge the obligations under which we are to the force with which my noble friend has been so long connected.