MR. H. BERKELEYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether it be true that the Worcestershire Militia have been called out four times, have been embodied twice, and stationed at the two principal training camps, Alder-shot and the Curragh; that during the whole of that time the men have never had a ball cartridge served out to them, and have the old musket to carry about; and whether this is equally true as regards the North Glocester and other militia regiments?
§ MR. SIDNEY HERBERTsaid, it was true that the Worcestershire Militia had been twice out in training, in 1853 and in 1859; and they had also been twice embodied— from November, 1854, to Juno, 1856, and from November, 1857, to May, 1858. They had been at Aldershot, and also at the Curragh. He found that 6,000 rounds of ball cartridge had been served out for practice. He, as Secretary for War, gave no orders as to the practice of any particular regiment. All he had to do was to honour the orders that were sent for material. It was quite true that at the time referred to the Militia had not got the Enfield Rifles; but now they had them, and he hoped that all the embodied Militia would have them soon. The military authorities, the Colonels commanding the regiments, and the Generals inspecting where the militia regiments were quartered, were the persons to decide on the nature of the drill to which they should be subjected, and how far it should be carried.