§ 11. Colonel BURNasked the Secretary of State for War whether the military great coats served out to the men are useless for protection against rain and in consequence unserviceable; whether he is aware that the men refuse to wear their great coats even in the heaviest rain, and prefer to protect themselves with ground sheets owing to their great coats being made of absorbing material; and, in the event of the Expeditionary Force being mobilised, what provision has been made for serving out to the men a serviceable coat that will protect them from cold and wet?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)There are in use a considerable number of drab great coats of the pattern introduced in 1902, when it was considered necessary to lighten the load carried by the soldier, or on his horse. It was subsequently decided that the advantage of lightness was more than counterbalanced by the greater permeability of the coat to rain, and a stouter and more rainproof material was adopted in 1905, and is being gradually introduced as stocks of the older coat wear out. Stocks of the heavier great coat are available for the whole of the Expeditionary Force.
§ Colonel BURNHas not the right hon. Gentleman received complaints from general officers commanding on the score 1040 of the rotten stuff of which these coats, are made?
§ Colonel SEELYThe coats are not made of rotten stuff. They are made of a material which has the advantage of lightness, with the consequent drawback that it is not so rain-proof. It is considered, however, that on the whole it is better to-have the tougher material and to carry the extra weight, and as soon as the existing stocks are used up the men will have the heavier coat.
§ Colonel BURNWill the right hon. Gentleman take the matter in hand at once, because, in the event of the Expeditionary Force being mobilised, it is vitally necessary that they should have proper clothing for the war?
§ Colonel SEELYIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman had really listened to my reply, he would have heard that stocks of the heavier great coat are available for the whole of the Expeditionary Force.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEWould the right hon. Gentleman try in the case of, say, some small unit an experiment in providing them with a Burberry or a lined waterproof and a sweater instead of a great coat?
§ Colonel SEELYNo.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEMay I assure the right hon. Gentleman that there is a strong desire in the Army to try the experiment; and that in nine cases out of ten it would be preferable to a great coat?
§ Colonel SEELYThat rather depends on how the coat gets on?