§ MR. C. T. D. ACLAND (Cornwall, Launceston)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it be true that the field guns attached to No. 8 Battery, 1st Volunteer (Devonshire) Brigade, Western Division Royal Artillery, have been taken away, and are to be replaced by heavy guns, the battery being turned into a garrison battery; whether it is still intended to issue a large number of field guns to Volunteer Artillery; and, whether these guns have been removed against the urgent recommendation of the Officer Commanding Auxiliary Artillery, Western District?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)In the mobilization scheme which has been approved for home defence, certain batteries of Volunteer Artillery are allotted as garrison artillery for the large coast fortresses in their neighbourhood. This particular corps is allotted as part of the garrison of Plymouth; and its practice should, therefore, be carried on in forts or fixed batteries. The guns withdrawn will, consequently, not be returned to it. With regard to the general question of Volunteer Artillery, their armament, and their position in the general scheme of 1073 national defence, I propose to make a statement in the Memorandum which I shall submit to Parliament with the Army Estimates.