§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the new ammunition (cordite powder) gun carriage is so constructed that when the ammunition boxes are partially emptied the jar is so excessive that it tends to produce displacement of some of the parts; and whether steps will be taken to obviate this unnecessary jar and the probable injury to the working parts of the gun resulting therefrom?
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,&c.) Stirling,I am sorry to say that I am quite unable to discover what this question means, nor can I find any soldier or civilian in the War Office who can even hazard a guess as to its meaning. If the hon. Member will put it down in a more explicit form, or will have the goodness to call at the War Office and explain to the Director of Artillery what it is that he desires to know, every effort will be made to give an answer.
§ *MR. WEIRAs the right hon. Gentleman does not understand this plain and simple question, I beg to give notice that I will again put the question on the Paper in another form, and, in the meantime, will endeavour to give some technical instruction to the Secretary for War and the Departmental Staff.