§ Mr. RENWICKasked the Secretary of State for War whether any and, if so, what alterations have been made in the regulations under which regular troops armed with ball cartridges were recently sent from York to take part in the defence of the bridges across the Tyne at and near Newcastle-on-Tyne, which bridges were defended by Territorials armed with blank cartridges, with the result that neither 230 party were allowed to fire their rifles, the usefulness of the operations being thereby impaired?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Haldane)As I have already explained to the hon. Member in reply to a previous question on this subject, the object of the manœuvres was to test the mobilisation arrangements and accordingly the troops were armed with ball cartridge. The manœuvres were carried out as intended and the usefulness of the operation was not in any way impaired as the hon. Member supposes. There is no intention of making any alterations in the regulations as suggested.
§ Mr. RENWICKMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any inquiry has been made as to the connection or otherwise between this regulation and the fatalities that have recently taken place by the issuing to soldiers of ball cartridges?
§ Mr. HALDANEIt has absolutely nothing whatever to do with it. There was no firing, and therefore no fatality. It is a test of mobilisation, and not of firing.
§ Mr. RENWICKI am afraid the right hon. Gentleman misunderstood me. The shooting took place afterwards by the soldiers, who had in their possession ball cartridges.
§ Mr. HALDANEThe Regular soldiers had ball cartridges because it is necessary that they should have the standard weight carried with them in the mobilisation test, but they did not fire them. They were returned to stock immediately after the mobilisation exercises were over.