§ 14. Mr. COUPERasked the Secretary of State for War whether the mechanisation of the 43 Territorial artillery brigades during the last annual training proved satisfactory; what is the ap- 1575 proximate difference in cost between wholly mechanising and horsing a Territorial field brigade, Royal Artillery; whether an extension of the mechanisation of this arm is contemplated for the next annual training; and, if so, with what nature of tractor?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSFrom a training point of view, the mechanisation of 43 Territorial artillery brigades proved very satisfactory, and it is the intention to continue next year the present policy, which aims at the full mechanisation, for training purposes, of Army field brigades and of medium brigades and at the mechanisation of at least one battery in each brigade of divisional field artillery. As regards the second part of the question, there is not at present sufficient experience to enable a comparison to be made between the cost of a mechanised and horse Territorial field brigade, Royal Artillery. As regards the last part of the question, the types of tractors at present recommended are light six-wheel lorries for field artillery and medium six-wheel lorries for medium artillery.