§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a rifle range reported by a Military Board as suitable for the magazine rifle exists within a short distance of the barracks recently erected at Omagh, and that a drill and encamping ground of large extent and excellent quality lies under the barrack walls, which can both be acquired at reasonable rates, and that their acquisition has been recommended by successive officers commanding the brigade depôt and the district but refused by the War Office; and whether it is in contemplation by the War Office to acquire land on the west coast of Donegal for a rifle range, and permanently to train the Militia battalions of Fermanagh and Tyrone out of their own counties at a further large annual charge to the public; and, if so, whether the whole subject will be reconsidered and further inquiry made before any permanent course is finally decided upon?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. WOODALL,) HanleyThe recommendations of local officers to establish a range and camping ground at Omagh have not been approved by the General Officer Commanding in Ireland, because he does not consider it desirable to continue the practice of hiring local rifle ranges and camping grounds for the Militia, but prefers that battalions should be brought together at some central place for training and musketry where they would have the advantage of association with Regular troops. Nothing is known of any proposal to acquire land for a range on the Donegal coast.