§ CAPTAIN COTTON (Cheshire, Wirral)asked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, Whether his attention has been drawn to a paragraph in The St. James's Gazette of Saturday last, relative to the issue of new swords to the 2nd Dragoon Guards preparatory to their departure for India, and stating in effect that the sword seemed to be made of "tin," and that the commanding officer himself tested them in the riding school by "cutting at the Turk's head," and that as a result sword after sword flew to pieces; and further, if the above be true, from what manufactory the swords in question were procured, and what steps are being taken to provide the regiment with an efficient weapon?
§ THE SURVEYOR GENERAL (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)As far as I know there is no foundation for the statement referred to. Prior to its embarkation the regiment received a complete equipment of new swords made in the Government factory at Enfield, as to which no complaint of any kind has reached the War Office. If anything of the nature of the occurrence mentioned in the hon. Member's Question had taken place it would have been the duty of the Commanding Officer to report it.