§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORDTo ask the Secretary of State for War, in view of the fact that the 3rd Kent (Royal Arsenal) Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers) are equipped with 16-pounder R. M. L. guns, whether 15-pounder B. L. guns will be substituted; and, seeing that the railway expenses are paid for taking horses to and fro when the corps goes into camp, and the expenses of forage whilst the corps is in camp, whether the grant made to the corps on account of going into camp covers the actual expenditure; can he State the annual cost to the corps of training drivers and non-commissioned officers in equitation, and the grant the Government makes towards defraying this cost; and will he explain why the range-finder of the corps is the telemeter, the use of which has been discontinued in the Regular Army.
(Answer.) This regiment will in due course be equipped with modern guns, but no pledge can be given as to any particular nature of gun. A grant of £100 is given to cover the expense of procuring the horses and transport, including drivers, and is considered sufficient under existing circumstances. I am net aware of the detailed expenditure of this grant. As regards telemeters, they are still in use in the British Army and are preferred by some battery commanders to any other service range-finder.—(War Office.)