§ 69. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state the length over all from butt-plate to muzzle of the British, the French, the Russian, the German, and the Austrian rifle, respectively, and the respective length of the bayonets from muzzle of rifle to point of bayonet used with the rifle of each of these armies; whether he is aware that, in the opinion of British and Canadian officers who have seen much bayonet fighting, the French bayonet is a far more effective weapon than the British; and whether the Secretary of State for War will consider the advisability of adopting the French pattern of bayonet so that our soldiers may not be handicapped in their bayonet fighting with the Germans?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe lengths of the rifles from butt-plate to muzzle are:—
| British | … | … | 3 feet 8.5 inches. |
| French | … | … | 4 feet 3.12 inches. |
| Russian | … | … | 4 feet 3.875 inches. |
| German | … | … | 4 feet 1.4 inches. |
| Austrian | … | … | 4 feet 2 inches. |
| British | … | … | 1 foot 5.2 inches. |
| French | … | … | 1 foot 8.72 inches. |
| Russian | … | … | 1 foot 5.125 inches. |
| German | … | … | 1 foot 8.35 inches. |
| Austrian | … | … | 9.5 inches. |
§ As regards the second part of the question, no reports to this effect have been received, and, in the absence of any official report or recommendation on the subject, it is not intended to change the pattern of our bayonet.