§ COLONEL BARNEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the Military authorities have considered the propriety of arming a certain proportion of each battalion of the Army with sixteen-shooter rifles to be used for hand to hand fighting?
§ LORD EUSTACE CECILThe question of magazine arms is under consideration, but no decision at present has been arrived at. An exhaustive trial was made in the United States in 1877–8. Out of 27 magazine rifles, one was selected as most suitable for military service. A few of this pattern have been ordered for trial, and a few also of a pattern approved by the Austrian Government. When these have been thoroughly tested, we shall be in a condition to come to some decision on the subject.