MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, stationed in Ceylon, is supplied with the Lee-Met-ford Magazine Rifle; if so, whether the following changes, stated by the War Office on 6th June, 1893, to be important modifications of the Mark I Rifle, have been made in the said rifle—namely, bolt, rounded at end to suit the rounded angle of cocking piece; spring (magazine), a fourth coil added; screws (bolt cover) (two), made a tight fit; screws (bolt head), mild cast steel, hardened at point and tempered, instead of mild steel unhardened; and whether the regiment is supplied with the Lee-Metford Magazine Rifle, Mark 2, with the Penn-Deeley patent bolt head?
* MR. WOODALLThe battalion of the Warwickshire Regiment in Ceylon has the Mark 1 (star) Lee-Metford Rifle. It is not known for certain whether the first of the modifications named in the question was made in these particular arms, as it was only applied to rifles made after a certain date. It is not, however, a point of much importance.
MR. WEIRIs the hon. Gentleman aware that on the 6th of Juno Last the War office stated that these modifications were of really great importance?
* MR. WOODALLIt is quite true that the series of modifications introduced into the Mark 1 (star) Rifle finally adopted are useful and important, but the one in question is a small detail.