§ 60. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of officers and men in a British battalion of Infantry and the number of officers and men in a German battalion of Infantry, the number of maxim or other quick-firing guns the British battalions fighting at the front are actually armed with, and the number of similar guns the German battalions are armed with; and whether he can state the average number of officers and men in a British Cavalry regiment dismounted and fighting in the trenches and the average number of maxim or other quick-firing guns they are provided with?
§ Mr. TENNANTComparisons such as that suggested can only be intended to 937 bring out some fancied inferiority in the quality or quantity of British equipment or establishments. Such suggestions serve no purpose but to undermine the confidence of troops, and I would therefore ask the hon. Gentleman to excuse me from giving the information. In regard to the last part of the question the numbers could only be obtained by asking the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, and I do not know whether the ban. Member would desire to do this himself or would wish me to undertake it.
§ Mr. HOUSTONThe right hon. Gentleman's answers to my inquiries are so unsatisfactory that I propose to deal with the question in debate at the earliest opportunity.