§ MR. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)To ask the Secretary of State for War, whether, as part of the Territorial Army scheme for the West Riding of Yorkshire, a proposal was privately or otherwise made to the officer commanding the Sheffield Volunteer artillery that Sheffield should provide three batteries of field artillery and one battery of horse artillery, with mounted brigade ammunition column; whether that officer's readiness to undertake the provision of such a force was ascertained; whether, in view of the fact that the Sheffield Volunteer artillery have, for many years past, had an establishment of four batteries armed and drilled as field artillery, and that this corps was eulogised by the Secretary of State for War on account of its high state of efficiency, testified to by General Lyttelton, Colonel May, C.B., C.M.G., and Colonel Wing, C.B., it is intended to carry into effect the proposal above described as communicated and accepted; and, if not, whether any other, and what, arrangement is to be made, and for what reason.
905 (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) When the provisional scheme for the Territorial Force was first issued the local military authorities discussed with the commanding officers the various ways in which the units might be raised, and, amongst others, Colonel Allen, the officer commanding 4th West Yorkshire Royal Garrison Artillery, was asked whether he would be prepared, if required, to raise the horse artillery battery. The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, after fully considering the question, ascertained from Lord Fitzwilliam that he was prepared to raise the battery, and this proposal was endorsed by the County Associations unanimously. It is the policy of the Army Council to accept recommendations made in this manner as to the allocation of units. Colonel Allen is one of the ablest and most energetic of the Volunteer artillery commanding officers, and it is the desire of the military authorities to make the fullest use of his remarkable abilities. In order to complete the establishment of the new Territorial Field Artillery Brigade which he is to command, seven officers and 173 other ranks have still to be raised.