§ * SIR E. ASHMEAD - BARTLETTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, in 1896, Lord Kitchener, then Sirdar, purchased of Messrs. Vickers, Sons and Maxim, for the Egyptian Army, several batteries of improved 12½-pounder quick-firing field guns, and whether the same type of guns were at that time offered to the British War Office.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMPurchases of guns for the Egyptian Government from private firms are not made by the War Office; it is believed, however, that some 12½-pounder mountain guns were purchased a few years ago by the Egyptian Government. These guns have been brought to the knowledge of the War Office, but they do not fulfil the conditions laid down for a mountain artillery gun by the Indian Government.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)Is it the fact that these guns, which were the property of the Egyptian Government, were sent to the seat of war?
§ * MR. SPEAKERThat hardly arises out of the question.
§ * SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTAm I to understand that no quick-firing field guns were purchased or offered to us?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThe 12½-pounder would be a mountain gun, as I have said. To respond to the question fully would necessitate a long reply.