* CAPTAIN NOKTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state what steps are being taken to replace such of our horse and field artillery guns as have become eroded, the number of guns ordered, and where those orders have been placed; whether any improvement has been made upon the quality of powder and class of fuses used in the South African War, as well as in the matter of modern howitzers and heavy field guns of the class now in use in the Japanese Army.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.)In reply to the first part of the Question, when the guns are condemned for erosion they are retubed, and over 100 have been retubed in the Ordnance Factories. The reply to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative, except in the case of the field howitzer, which is still under experiment.
In reply to a further Question, the right hon. Gentleman said all guns capable of repair were being repaired. He could not give the number of new guns ordered.
§ * SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I will call attention to this subject on the Army Vote on Thursday.