§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)I wish, with the permission of the House, to make a correction of an answer which I gave just before the Recess. On the 19th of May, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hanbury), I explained at some length the re testing of the triangular bayonets in the hands of the Regular Army, and in store. On Wednesday last, I became aware of an inaccuracy in my statement as regards sword bayonets; and I communicated to my hon. Friend my intention to correct it, with the permission of the House, today. I then stated that the test now applied to the sword bayonets included, among other things, their "being sprung round a curved block 2½ inches high, or over a bridge giving the same bend." I find now that the height of the bridge is really only 2 inches, and not 2½ inches. This must also modify my answer as to the comparative severity of the tests applied to these sword bayonets. The new test is more severe as regards blows on the flat, but the height of the bridge over which they are tested is the same as before. I am sorry to have made any error in a statement of so much importance. The information was supplied to rue on the authority of Colonel Arbuthnot, late Superintendent of the Small Arms Factory, who expresses his regret that in speaking from memory the error should have occurred.
§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked, whether the bayonets would be submitted to any stronger test?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid, that that would be impossible, as they were 30 years old.