§ SIR JOHN GRAYasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the recommendation of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, for the adoption of the valise equipment in the Infantry, was not made prior to the application of the officer commanding the 1st Battalion of Grenadier Guards to His Royal Highness for a renewed trial of Lieutenant Colonel Carter's plan of equipment, consequent upon the discovery that the trial of that 960 equipment, his own regiment had been improperly conducted; and, whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Copy of the application referred to?
§ SIR HENRY STORKSSir, the recommendation of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief that the trials of Lieutenant Colonel Carter's plan of equipment should cease and the question be closed by the adoption of the valise equipment was dated February 18, 1870. This recommendation, together with the report of the officer commanding the Grenadier Guards on which it was founded, has been already laid on the Table of the House. On the 13th of March, 1870, the officer in command of the Grenadier Guards wrote to say that Lieutenant Colonel Carter had called on him, and had pointed out that many of the objections to his mode of equipment would be removed by certain alterations he wished made, and that he (Colonel Ponsonby) was ready to give the equipment another trial. A day or two later Colonel Ponsonby called on the Adjutant General, and stated that he was himself convinced of the superiority of the valise equipment; but that, to satisfy Colonel Carter, he had no objection to make further trial, if considered advisable. As, however, the reports had been so uniformly in favour of the valise equipment, and condemnatory of Colonel Carter's plan, His Royal Highness felt that he would not be justified in reopening the question, and causing the equipment of the Army to be delayed because Colonel Carter was not satisfied with the trials, and was anxious to make further alterations. Under these circumstances, I do not see the advantage of producing a copy of the application referred to.