§ GENERAL FRASER (Lambeth, N,)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the strengthening of the attenuated batteries of Horse Artillery, promised by the Government at the time of 1400 the reduction of certain batteries in April, 1887, has yet been carried out; and, whether the ammunition columns promised, as the result of that reduction, have yet been formed?
§ THE SECRETARY of STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Three batteries only of the Royal Horse Artillery are at the lower establishment of four guns each. I shall be glad if it be possible to make these also six-gun batteries; but the primary duty this year appeared to be to provide for certain additions to the garrison artillery, urgently required for the defence of the Empire. The mode of providing the ammunition columns which was proposed by the Military Authorities in 1887 was the conversion of 14 existing field batteries into ammunition columns; but there is a scheme now before me for providing the nucleus of these columns for home defence in another way.