§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER (Croydon)To ask the Secretary of State for War what is the present proportion of regular field and horse artillery guns available for service per 1,000 sabres and rifles of the regular Army, Militia, and Volunteers.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) According to our present war organisation, as laid down in War Establishments, the proportion of field and horse artillery guns to sabres and bayonets in an organised field force is about one to 200, or, approximately, five per 1,000. If, on mobilisation, all the regular batteries in the United Kingdom could be used as batteries, the proportion of guns to the mobilised war strength of the regular cavalry and infantry units available for service would be somewhat higher than indicated above. But under the existing arrangements the personnel of a large number of these batteries would have to be employed for the formation of ammunition columns. No regular batteries have, so far, ever been provided for service with the Militia or the Volunteers.