§ 39. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Under-Secretary for War whether, seeing that the Germans have now for many months held their trenches with machine guns, while our trenches have been held by riflemen, he will say why the War Office for many months persistently refused offers of British and American machine guns on the ground that these were not interchangeable with the parts of the Maxim gun; whether a number of the parts of the Vickers-Maxim gun, used by the original Expeditionary Force, are not interchangeable with the pattern of Maxim now being supplied; and whether 529 he will therefore say who is responsible for the refusal of the War Office last year to order guns the parts of which were not interchangeable with the old type of Maxim gun?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo offers of British or American machine guns have been refused by the War Office on account of non-inter-changeability of parts, and I may add that no type of machine gun, considered suitable for use in the field has been refused. The answer to the second part is in the affirmative, and the third part does not arise.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMThen how is it that guns have since been ordered by the Minister of Munitions which were refused by the War Office in February last year?
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not think that is a fact.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMI know it is.