MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) if he will specify what precise time he means to convey in his statement that the Territorial Force will be armed very shortly with Mark VII. ammunition and with rifles sighted for that purpose, and why is it necessary to alter the sights; (2) if he will explain why, if the existing rifle with which the Territorial Force are now armed is superior to that of foreign nations, have the Government gone to the expense of converting it to a rifle which he states to be less preferable than the long rifle; and (3) whether he will state why, if the new pointed ammunition suits both the converted and the old rifle and is absolutely interchangeable, it was necessary to manufacture the new converted rifle; and why is it necessary to have stocks of both kinds of ammunition, and is it proposed to continue manufacturing the old ammunition?
§ Colonel SEELYIt was considered expedient to adopt ammunition with a flatter trajectory than that of Mark VI., and the sights require to be altered to suit such ammunition. It is possible to use the old ammunition with the new sights, but it is not, of course, proposed to do so. It is obviously necessary to keep up the supply of the old ammunition for the rifles until they have the new sights. The Territorial Force will be given the new ammunition and the resighted rifle with the least possible delay. The short rifle was adopted in 1903 because, amongst other considerations, it was considered that the increased handiness and lightness more than compensated for a somewhat higher trajectory.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he intends to give the Territorial Force the rifle with the greater handiness, and, if so, when the distribution will be made to the force?
§ Colonel SEELYI have said that with the least possible delay the rifles will be resighted. The question of handiness is one which I have discussed with the Noble Lord in Debate.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEAm I to understand that the rifle which the Territorial Force have got is superior to that of foreign nations?
§ Colonel SEELYNo, Sir; but if we take the view of the Leader of the Opposition it is better, because it has a lower trajectory. I must leave the Noble Lord to settle that matter with the Leader of the Opposition.