§ MR. ROBERT WALLACE (Edinburgh, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can state how many Nordenfeldt guns have burst during operations connected with the Navy since the introduction of the weapon into the Service: and whether any, and how many, persons have been killed or wounded in such accidents?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH,) Lancashire, ClitheroeNone of the six-pounder Nordenfeldt guns have burst on service. But of the Nordenfeldt machine gnus, from 1879 to the present time, two have blown off their muzzles, without injury to anyone. Twenty-two other accidents, principally due to haug-fire, have occurred, resulting in injuries to 15 persons. In 1879 one accident occurred, due to bad manipulation, and resulted in the death of one man and the injury of one other. No more Nordenfeldt 1429 machine guns are being made; the Maxim guns are the only machine guns now ordered.