The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-15 00:00:00

TILE MILITARY BOARD OF INQUIRY,

[A. part of the following appeared in our impression
of yesterday :—]
The Board met this morning at the usual hour when
the examination of
Sir R. Airey was proceeded with. He said that an
answer given by him on Saturday to a question put to
him by the Commissioners, why nothing hal been done
to shelter the horses on the 12th Nov., referred not t
that particular date, bu's generally as to the cavalry up
to that time.
Col. Tulloch submitted that as the report of the Cri-
mean Commissioners was founded entirely on the infor-
mation given to them by officers in the Crimea, it could
not be impugned by any subsequent explanation.
The Judge-Advocate-General said that Cal. Tulloch
had better confine himself to examining the witness
rather than enter into explanations by running com-
ments on the witness's evidence.
Colonel Tulloch wished t 3 know if he was to under-
stand that Sir R. Airey's explanation was to cancel his
former statement made to the Commissioners ?
The Judge-Advocate-General—l think you are.
Colonel Tulloch (to witness)—Are these, then, the
effect of your answer—that on the 12th of November
last the site of the camp had been fixed, that engineer
offic,rs were available, that Turks and tools were ready,
and that there was nothing to prevent the construction
of shelter?
Sir R. Airey sail that the great uocerta:nty that pre-
vailed of the cavalry remaining on that spot at the time
alluded io prevented the er ction of s'aelter. Ile ex-
pressed his regret at the indisposition of the C3mmis-
sinners to examine him personally, for, hal they done
so, a great many erroneous impressions and conclusions
might have been avoided.

Colonel Tulloch—Why did you neglect to explain
this important circumstance to the Commissioners ?
Sir It Airey said because he really did not know the
object of the Commissioners was anything more than to
obtain general information upon general sutjacts ; and
that a Quartermaster-General's time was fully occupied
in the discharge of his official duties—not having five
minutes to spare in the day?

Col. Tulloch—ln the absence of that information
could the Commissioners have possibly known that your
answer did not refer specifically to the 12,h Nov.
Sir R. Airey said he was unable to answer that ques-
tion. He was not aware that Lieutenant-Colonel
Gordon had offered an explanation to the Commis-
sioners to lead them to conclude that everything would be
ready except the timber. He felt sure Lieut.-Colonel
Gordon was anxious to give them all the information in
his power. He was not a.vare that such an explanation
as he had given to the Board was given to the Commis-
sioners. Any alteration of witness's orders would not
appear in his office register, because in carrying on such
a great war as that they had lately been engaged in
many of the orders were given and countermanded orally.
A great deal more was done than what appeared in his
office register. With regard to Lord Lucan's statement
of the 12th November, that an engineer officer would be
placed at his disposal, arrangements were made for that
purpose, but beyond that he was unable to state any-
thing. He, of course, expected they would have been
carried out. The Commissioners called at his office
three times after Lieut.• Colonel Gordon's examination to
take his (Sir R. Airey's) evidence, but on each occasion
he was peremptorily called away. He found by refer-
ence to his book that on the 12th Nov. Captain G .rdon
was written to by order of the Commander of the Forces
to place an engineer officer at the disposal of Lord
Lucan, and that the commander of the Engineers was
written to accordingly.

On being again pressed by Col. Tulloch to say whe-
ther it would not have been better had the witness
afforded this information on subjects on which the
Commissioners were desirous of obtaining the fullest in-
formation at, the time they were in the Crimea, he said
he was unable to do so from press of business, and that
his answers were as short as possible in consequence.
Witness continued—The great and primary cause of
delay was the want of labour, With sufficient labourers
they might have done anything, even before the site of
the camp was permanently fixed on. He was unable to
say if the permanent site of the camp had been fixed on
by the 16th December.

It appeared from remarks made by Lord Lucan, and
a reference to his evidence before the Board, that the
ground for stables for the c.►valry bad been marked out
before the 16,,h December.

Colonel To said that perhaps Lord Lucan would
have no objection to afford the Court the. information
desired—viz., when the ground was marked out.
Lord Lucan—lf you will examine me I will answer
that or any other question.

Sir R. Airey continued his evidence, and said that
the questions theOommissioners required him to answer
remained in his possession several weeks before he did

Colonel Tillloch—Could Lcrd Lucan have constructed
shelter without labour, without toobt without materials,
and without a permanent site being 'fixed on before the
12th Nov., and have provided shelter for the cavalry in
accordance with orders that had been issued to that
effect ?

Sir R. Airey—The shelter to be constructed was
such as the circumstances would admit of. That might
have been merely throwing up of embankments for the
night, or any temporary shelter Lord Lucan might be
able to construct under the then circumstances.
Col. Tulloch—The Commissioners having received no
other information except that which they obtained from
you and your officers as to the construction of the
stables, which appeared to embrace a period of three
months, was it not necessary some other information
should have been afforded the Commissioners to pre-
vent them coining to a conclusion that there was a want
of promptitude and ingenuity displayed in providieg
shelter t. .

. .
Sir it. Airey---Yea• I think it was a great pity they
came to that conclusion withnut calling for flintier
evidence. • _ _

Col. Tulloch—From whom but from yourself and Col.
Gordon could such evidence have been obtained ?
Sir R. Airey—l think very much might have been
obtained from me, and I think with one ride between

KIR KCAL D Y—AP RIL 12.
Fair supplies of wheat and oats, and only a few sacks
of barley. Sales ready for all kinds of grain. Wheat and
barley same as last week. Oats sold slowly, and inferior
were 6d to is per qr. cheaper.

Wheat.
First 76s Od
Second
Third 6os Od

Barley. Oats. I Beans.
435 01 t 3ls Od I Os (kJ
42s 308 Od j Os Od
36s Od 26s Od I Os Ott