§ *MR. SEYMOUR ORMSBY-GORE (Lincolnshire, Gainsborough)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what is the classification of the following brigade divisions of Volunteer Artillery: the 1st Lanark, the 1st Monmouth, the 1st Lincolnshire, the 4th Yorks, and the 3rd Kent; what would be their various purposes and objectives in accordance with their mobilisation orders in case of a raid by a foreign force on the United Kingdom; and whether he intends to fulfil the pledges given by the Secretary of State for India and himself that they would be re-armed with the discarded 15-pounder guns of the Royal Field Artillery when the latter are re-armed with the new modern 18-pounder quick-firing armament.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.A revised scheme for the utilisation of the Volunteer forces for home defence is now being considered, and I am not, therefore, in a position to give my hon. friend the information he desires. As regards the last part of the Question, I have no information to give beyond that which has already been communicated to the House.
§ *MR. SEYMOUR ORMSBY-GOREasked whether it was the intention of the War Office to destroy these brigade divisions by the want of encouragement, or to alter the whole character of the force.
§ *MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThat is a very wide Question. It is the desire of the War Office to apply the energy and goodwill of these brigade divisions to a purpose that would be useful in time of war, and the question how they can be made useful in time of war under the new conditions arising out of the Prime Minister's statement of military policy is now under consideration.
§ MR. CHARLES ALLEN (Gloucestershire, Stroud)Will that revised scheme be published?
§ *MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERNo, Sir.
§ MR. C. R. SPENCER (Northamptonshire, Mid.)Will the right hon. Gentleman say why it is not to be published?
§ *MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERWe have to consider the allocation of the Volunteer forces in view of the policy which has been laid before the House by the Prime Minister. That is a very delicate and difficult matter, and I am not sure that it is advisable to set out the whole strategical disposition of the British Army in a public document.
§ *MR. SEYMOUR ORMSBY-GOREIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been very specific mobilisation orders issued to these Volunteer corps?
§ *MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI am perfectly aware of that; but there 74 must be a change in those orders. For example, a large number of Volunteer artillery corps were appropriated to the fixed defences of London; but the whole of that scheme is now considered to be unnecessary. In view of the present strength and disposition of the Fleet, that arrangement is considered unnecessary, and therefore it is necessary to have a reallocation of the Volunteer artillery corps.
§ MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS (Sheffield, Ecclesall)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these brigade divisions have hitherto been trained as field artillery, and encouraged to be so trained by the War Office?
§ *MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERNo, Sir, that is not a correct statement of the facts. I have over and over again, in many Answers, told the hon. Gentleman what are the facts.
§ *MR. SEYMOUR ORMSBY-GOREThen why are they given horse allowance?