§ CAPTAIN GRICE-HUTCHINSON (Aston Manor)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the 1st Scottish Rifles bore with perfect forbearance and discipline the two attacks made upon them, their barracks and officers' quarters, by the men of the Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot on 1st and 2nd May; will he explain on what grounds 1hey have been removed from their barracks to others in the North Camp, at a great expense to the married people and officers, while the Cavalry Brigade, the authors of the disturbance, have been brought back to the same quarters they occupied before they organised the attack; and whether, if this is the case, he will see that immediate steps are taken to have the good name of the Scottish Rifles cleared from any stigma of offence which the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the battalion feel is laid upon them by reason of this removal?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIt is the fact that the Scottish Rifles, in the regrettable outbreak of May 1, bore the attacks made upon them with forbearance and good discipline; and no stigma has been laid upon the regiment by their removal, of the reason for which they are perfectly well aware. That reason is easily explained. It was obviously undesirable after what had occurred that the Cavalry regiments and the Scottish Rifles should remain quartered in immediate proximity to each other. The Cavalry regiments must of course be accommodated in barracks with stabling; when, therefore, they were brought back from being under canvas, these regiments were quartered in the Cavalry Barracks; but each regiment has changed its barrack and occupies a different one from that occupied before, while the Scottish Rifles in the North Camp are entirely separated from them.
§ CAPTIAN GRICE-HUTCHINSONI would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, considering the fact that this regiment does feel that in the public view it has been disgraced by being removed in this way, he will take any steps to assure this gallant and distinguished regiment that it is not disgraced? Could not something be done in the form of a letter written by the Commander-in-Chief to the Colonel of the Scottish Rifles— to be read on parade—which would remove the stigma, which I assure the right hon. Gentleman is felt deeply?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANMy information is that the regiment are perfectly well aware that there is no slur upon them. The officer commanding stated that to them before the removal took place.
§ MR. MACFARLANEIf the necessity for the removal of the regiment was due to the attack upon it why not charge the expenses of the removal against the Cavalry Brigade?
§ An hon. MEMBER: Is it not a fact that the 20th Hussars were sent under canvas as a punishment?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANCertainly.