HC Deb 20 October 1909 vol 12 cc284-5
Captain CRAIG

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state if instructions have been issued that no service ammunition is in future to be held by or for the 18 training batteries, Royal Field Artillery; and, if so, can he indicate the use the batteries would be put to in the event of any sudden emergency?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. F. D. Acland)

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, the training batteries would continue to be used for training recruits, there being no reason to suppose that our artillery force, exclusive of these batteries, would be insufficient to meet requirements.

Captain CRAIG

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether it is a fact that in future no service ammunition is to be served out at all to this branch of the Regular Army; and how can it possibly be trained unless they have a certain amount of ammunition supplied to them?

Mr. ACLAND

They are not part of the field organisation.

Mr. ARTHUR LEE

Have these batteries no training at all in actual firing?

Mr. ACLAND

Not in the actual firing, but they have gun trials.

Mr. LEE

Not in the actual firing practice at all?

Mr. ACLAND

No.

Captain FABER

But does not the ammunition column become the fighting column very soon in time of war?

Mr. ACLAND

We are fully manned for that.

Captain FABER

But how can you tell you are fully manned until you know your losses in the fighting line?

Mr. LEE

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the whole of the ammunition columns in the Japanese army had to join the regular batteries before the end of the war?

Mr. ACLAND

There will be plenty of time to train these men to take part in field service.

Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

Will the hon. Gentleman guarantee that there will be plenty of time to train our men?

Mr. ACLAND

There will be ample time.