§ GENERAL FRASER (Lambeth, N.)asked the Secretary of State for War, If he is aware that the pouches issued to a Cavalry regiment, intended to carry 20 rounds of ball ammunition, were found, on a recent occasion, to be of such inferior workmanship as to give way in the stitching in many instances under the weight of only 10 rounds; whether, on the Report of the Commanding Officer upon these pouches (specimens of which were sent with the Report to Woolwich), the whole regiment was supplied with new pouches, which, on being examined 1647 and tested by the Commanding Officer, were found to be quite useless, and incapable of holding the ammunition they were intended for; and, whether, on a further Report being made to this effect, the Officer Commanding was ordered to retain these pouches?
§ THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF ORDNANCE (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)(who replied) said: Not long since the ammunition pouches of a Cavalry regiment were found of an obsolete pattern, and were exchanged for new ones. The new ones were complained of as being too small to contain the required ammunition. On investigation, it was ascertained that this arose from the cartridges not having been put in the pouches in the manner laid down by regulation. As the same pouch is in general use in Cavalry regiments, and was found, on examination, to be quite serviceable, the regiment in question was directed to retain the supply.