The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-02 00:00:00

TRANSPORT OF TROOPS.

Sir R. COLLIER asked the Secretary for War whether
a statement which appeared in the 11743 tern Morning News
was correct, to the effect that on the removal of the 40th
Regiment from Plymouth to Aldershot, the troops were
kept on board her Majesty's troopship Simoom for three
days without bedding or blankets, and were compelled to
lie upon bare boards without any covering; and whether
they were kept without food front five p.m. on the 11th of
November, when they left the ship, until they arrived at
Aldershot at half-past two the next day ?
Sir J. PAKINUTON said he had made careful Sin-
quiry into the matter, and he was happy to say the reports
in the papers were very much exaggerated. The regiment
in question was embarked on the Saturday, and thus the
miaakc occurred, Sunday being invariably observed as a
dies ma. The vessel arrived, and was detained at Spit-
head the whole of that day, and on the following day
(Monday) they were prevented from lauding on
azcJunt of the tide, and the men did not leave the
vessel until Tuesday. With respect to lying on the bare
boards he had to say that the troops themselves objected
to take blankets with them on such short voyages, as they
have to a►ake good any loss that might take place. In the
presaut case the men objected to taking blankets, but they
were supplied to the women and children, the men being
quite satisfied with the use of the great coats. The state-
ment that they were kept without food for a length of
time was altogether without foundation.
ANNEXATION OF THESSALY TO GREECE.

Lord J. HAY asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs whether there was any despatch in the Foreign-
office for Mr. Elliot, dated 1862 or 1863, stating that he had
intimated to Mr. Boulgaris, the head of the Provisional
Government of Greece, that her Majesty's Government
would see with pleasure th e annexation of Epirus and
Thessaly to Greece, or words to that effect; and if the
noble lord would lay the same upon the table.
Lord STANLEY said that such au intimation had been
made to the Greek Government, on the supposition that
the Porte would not object to such an arrangement, but
when it was discovered that such an arrangement was
disapproved, the matter was at Me withdrawn. The

papers connected with the matter were confidential, there-
fore he could not produce them.
THE CONFERENCE AT PARIS.
Sir 11. W. BARRON asked the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether he had consented to have Eng..
land represented at the proposed conference on Italian
affairs, and on what terms ?

Lord STANLEY said ho had on the first day of the
session stated the nature of
,the answer of • the English-
Government to the proposition of the Freaehtlovermneet
that &Eisler he had not modified in awyrogpeet.
THE ABYSSINIAN EVMDITION.
Major ANSON asked the S;rE're4i-)= of Statj for War
whether th t stores for the A-4'irsAttivn expeditio.t were
to be provided by the Indiau GiA,ernmont ; whether sun

stores, not consumed or injured during the ca►npiign, wer
to be returned into tore at :Bombay, or whether they are
to be kept by us, as was the case iu Uhina in 18GU; andif
tho latter was the arrangement come to, whether any
officers have been sent out by the Treasury to watch the,
expenditure and protect our inter sts, so as to preclr,de
our having to pay for stores of obsolete pattern.

- -
Sir J. PAKING TON said the expedition was being
equipped and fitted out at I.lo:uhay for the Bri(isi. jovern-
inept. The stores were tint supplied by the lud.a Govam-
ment. Ciro would be taken that nu obsolete-stores were
returned into store at the close of the expedition.
M. 0 VWAY asked the Secretary of State for War
whe:her it was true that -£B,OOO was paid by the report of
the War Department to Mr. Hale for the invention of the
rockets which bear his name ; whether these rockets were
after severe tests finally adopted by the Ordnance Select
Committee to the exclusion of stick rockets.

Sir J. PAKINGTON said it was quite true that Mr
Hale had received the sum mentioned, and tho statement
that he could manufacture from 800 to 1,000 per week had.
no foundation.