GENERAL ERASER (Lambeth, N.)asked the Secretary of State for War, In view of the statement in his letter to the signatories of the appeal against the Horse Artillery reductions, quoted from the distinguished General's Minute, in discrediting the value of that arm, that—
At present the bulk of Horse Artillery is armed with a 9-pounder, a very poor gun; whilst our Field Batteries are armed with an admirable 13-pounder, or the old pattern 10-pounder, a good but unwieldy gun;and, if it is the fact that there are 53 batteries of Field Artillery also armed with a 9-pounder gun, and that there are only 13 batteries out of the whole number of 84 batteries of Field Artillery armed with the 13-pounder, and 15 batteries with the 16-pounder?
§ THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF ORDNANCE (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)(who replied) said: My hon. and gallant Friend's figures are substantially cor- 1454 rect; but I am glad to say that rapid progress is being made in re-armament during the present financial year. The new guns for two more batteries are now being prepared for issue to Field Artillery; those for 10 more will follow at the rate of two per month, and for nine more the guns will be ready during the year. My hon. and gallant Friend should also remember that 42 of the batteries named by him are in India, and their armament rests with the Indian Government.