MR. HANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for war what information he can give to the House as to the results of trials of armour-piercing shot manufactured by a Sheffield firm, 9.'2 inches in diameter, and weighing 1578 380 pounds each, which are stated to have passed entirely through a 14-inch compound plate, and then through four feet of oak hacking into a heap of sand in the rear, without any practical damage to the shot itself: whether the French projectiles have given similarly good results; and whether they were for Army or Navy use?
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. WOODALL,) Hanley(who replied) said: The trial referred to is the ordinary test for armour-piercing projectiles of the calibre named. Only one shot was fired, and as it passed proof the projectiles were accepted for land service. No French projectiles of 9.2 inches have been tested by us during the last three years. No comparison, therefore, can be made with French shot of recent date.