§ Mr. ARTHUR LEEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what are the special duties which field batteries of the Territorial Army are expected to perform in the event of an invasion; and in what particulars do they diner from the duties to be performed in war by field batteries of the Regular Army.
§ MR. HALDANEThe duties required of field batteries of the Territorial Force in the event of an invasion differ in no respect from those of the Regular Field Army.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)When does the hon. Member expect the invader? Who is to be the invader? Is it the German Emperor?
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is the opinion of the Army Council that Territorial field batteries, armed with guns inferior in range, accuracy, rapidity 1344 of fire, weight of projectile, and number of bullets in shrapnel shell, and manned by a comparatively untrained personnel can properly be placed in the field against the modern quick-firing batteries and highly-trained personnel of a Continental regular army.
§ MR. HALDANEThe hon. Member is introducing into a Question matter that can only properly be dealt with in debate and would better be raised on Army Estimates. I may, however, point out that it was necessary to make a start in arming the Territorial Force with guns and that there was a large stock of 15-pounder guns available. These are good guns, nearly equal to the Field Artillery of some of the greatest Continental Powers in range, muzzle velocity, and weight of projectile. They have fewer bullets in the shrapnel than the 18-pounder, but on the other hand, they are mobile and better adapted for use in an enclosed and wooded terrain such as the Territorial Army would generally operate in. I may observe that, notwithstanding the great knowledge of the hon. Member, I doubt whether he has applied his mind to the artillery conditions which would obtain in regard to the operations of an invading force coming to these islands. The ground for the most part would be wooded and enclosed, and if the hon. Member would refer to the valuable book of Colonel Caldwell on the tactics of home defence, it is the fortieth chapter I think, he would see why it is absolutely vital for such a purpose that the artillery should be of the most mobile character, with the range of the guns necessarily short.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEasked whether the right hon. Gentleman wished the House to understand that the gun which he proposed to arm the Territorial Army with was to be more suitable for the conditions of war in England than the guns which would be brought against us.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWe are not at war; we are at peace.
§ MR. HALDANEI do not know what the hon. Member is driving at. Suppose you compare the German with 1345 the English guns, which is what is probably in the hon. Gentleman's mind. The 15-pounder gun has a muzzle velocity of 1,581 feet as against the German muzzle velocity of 1,525 feet. The effective range of the 15-pounder gun is 5,900 as against 5,500 with the German gun. The number of bullets in the shrapnel is slightly less. It is 230 against 300 on the German side, and the weight of the projectile is 14 lb. as against 15 lb.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLHear, hear! The Empire is safe.