§ 5. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that casualties were occasioned owing to our trenches being held by riflemen while the German first lines are mainly held by machine guns, he will say whether, seeing that the War Office have stated that the Colt machine gun is a good weapon and that this gun is used by the French and by the Canadian division at the front, when the firm's offer of 10,000 to 20,000 of these machines for quick delivery was made last January, Sir J. French was consulted before the offer was declined?
§ Mr. FORSTERIf my hon. Friend professes to quote the opinion I have expressed with regard to the merits of the Colt gun, he should quote it in full. Sir John French was not consulted when the offer of these guns was declined.
§ 10. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the fact that the offer of 10,000 to 20,000 Colt machine guns was refused last January, as it Was then considered that the money and plant might be more usefully employed in the manufacture of another type of gun, he is aware that not a single American machine gun has been made for this country with the plant in question; and if he will say whether the Treasury in any way restricted the War Office in the ordering of these or any other guns?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the latter part in the negative.