§ COLONEL SIR H. VINCENT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if the attention of Lord Lansdowne has been drawn to the recent observations of Field Marshal Lord Roberts, Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, as to the paramount necessity of greater efforts being made to improve the shooting of the Army, and to his declaration that, under the conditions of modern warfare, mere drill except to enable the modern rifle to be used with the best advantage is little more than playing at soldiers, the Government will make serious endeavour to acquire, with the pecuniary help of Parliament, before the increase of population and buildings make it impossible, suitable ranges throughout the country?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE OF WAR (Mr. ST. JOHN BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)Every effort is being made to acquire new ranges and to improve others in various central positions. Two ranges have already been established on the land recently acquired on Salisbury Plain, and accommodation will be available there after this year for camping and for rifle practice for any Volunteer corps who may desire to use the ground, as well as for the Regular Army.