§ SIRCH ARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will say how long will be taken in the re-armament of the Horse and Field Artillery, and how much longer in the completion of the authorised reserve of guns; and at what date it is expected that the re-armament and supply will be concluded.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) If the right hon. Baronet will kindly refer to page 4 of the Memorandum on Army Estimates, 1904–5, he will find under the heading, "New Patterns of Artillery and Rifles," the following statement: "It will not be possible to secure delivery during 1904–5 of more than the number of complete batteries assigned to India; but manufacture will be in full swing in the latter part of the year, and rapid deliveries of batteries for the Home Army will take place throughout the following year. Arrangements 55 are being made complete practically the whole re-armament, together with a large number of reserve batteries, by the 31st March, 1907." No further details are at present available.