§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)asked the Secretary of State for War, What proportion of the 9.2 guns have failed; who made them; and, whether any 1645 more are being constructed of the same pattern?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Twenty-seven 9.2-inch guns have now been proved, of which, if cracking the liner be regarded as failure, five have failed on proof. The guns which cracked their liners were all made in the Royal Gun Factories; but the liners were obtained by contract; and as all which cracked were from one maker, while none made elsewhere cracked, the presumption arises that some peculiarity in the steel may account for the result. The pattern has, however, been altered with regard to the fitting in of the liner.