§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the following paragraphs, which appeared in The Times newspaper of Monday, 23rd August, page 7:—
Apprehended Disturbances in England.—Sir Evelyn Wood, the General Commanding the Eastern District, pursuant to instructions from the War Office, has issued orders to the Volunteers in his District to assemble for picket duty, and to hold themselves in readiness to assist in quelling rioting and disturbance. The order will probably continue in force throughout the ensuing autumn and winter.The contingent selected from the Chelmsford Corps consists of one officer, one serjeant, two corporals, and twenty privates. Twenty rounds of ball cartridge have been served out to each man. Their duties are to parade twice a week near the Shire Hall, and to be prepared at any moment to turn out and assist the police if necessary. The picket will be changed once a month; but the present picket will remain on duty till the end of September.It is understood that the order has been issued in preparation of apprehended dynamite outrages and Irish disturbances in the Northern and Midland towns;and, whether there is any foundation for the statements contained in the paragraphs?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster), in reply, said, he was happy to inform the hon. Gentleman that there was no apprehension of a disturbance in England or in the Eastern district; that the General Commanding in that district had not issued any instruction of the kind referred to; and that probably the 545 paragraph in The Times originated in the fact that in February last the attention of commanding officers had been drawn to No. 447 of the Volunteer Regulations, which imposed upon Volunteer officers the necessity of taking adequate precautions for the safety of arms intrusted to their care.