§ MR. BROOKFIELD (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state what warrant officers, noncommissioned officers, and men in the Army, carry pistols or revolvers as part of their ordinary equipment; whether these soldiers are duly instructed and trained in the use of these arms; whether it is the case that commissioned officers never carry revolvers except when proceeding on active service, and never receive any instruction or training in the use of that weapon; and whether he will consider the desirability of officially recognising the revolver as part of an officer's ordinary equipment, and providing all ranks thus armed with a regular course of instruction and training in revolver practice?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIn the Cavalry revolvers are carried by sergeant-majors, quartermaster sergeants, trumpeters, and sergeant farriers; in the Artillery and Engineers by corresponding ranks and a few others of the mounted troops, and by 25 per cent. of the drivers. Revolvers are not carried by the Infantry. The Regulations prescribe for these noncommissioned officers and men annual instruction and practice with the weapon. Commissioned officers only carry revolvers on active service, and are not instructed in their use; but arrangements are under consideration for improving the system of instruction in revolver firing. It is not contemplated to make the revolver part of an officer's ordinary equipment.