§ 16. Major NEWMANasked whether the men of the Royal Irish Constabulary are each armed with a service revolver?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Herbert Samuel)Not every member of the Royal Irish Constabulary is supplied with a service revolver, but revolvers are supplied to the various police stations in such numbers as are considered necessary for the performance of police duty in each locality.
§ 17. Major NEWMANasked whether, in a recent affray at Ashbourne, county Meath, a body of fifty men of the Royal Irish Constabulary were compelled, owing to lack of ammunition, to surrender at discretion with a loss of nine dead and fourteen wounded?
§ Mr. SAMUELTwo officers and fifty-four men of the Royal Irish Constabulary took part in the Ashbourne affray on 28th April. The fight having lasted for five hours, when both officers had fallen and six of the men had been killed and fifteen wounded, the remainder surrendered, being completely surrounded by about 300 rebels and having practically at that time exhausted their ammunition.
§ Major NEWMANCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many rounds of ammunition each man had?
§ Mr. SAMUELNo, Sir.
§ 18. Major NEWMANasked what is the nature and date of make of rifle with which the men of the Royal Irish Constabulary are supplied, and its effective range; whether regulation ammunition is served out with this rifle or some other sort; what number of rounds per man; and what arrangements are made for a supply of reserve ammunition in case of emergency?
§ Mr. SAMUELThe men of the Royal Irish Constabulary are armed with the Lee-Enfield Carbine, Mark I., issued in 1904, and sighted up to 2,000 yards. Regulation ammunition is served out with each carbine and a reserve is kept. I do not think it advisable to state the quantities.
§ Major NEWMANIs it not a fact that there is no reserve ammunition whatsoever for those rifles kept in the police barracks?
§ Mr. SAMUELMy information is to the contrary.