§ LORD TRUROsaid, he desired, at the request of the metropolitan commanding officers, to put a question on the subject of the accoutrements and ammunition supplied to Volunteers. Although it might at first sight seem a small matter as to whether Volunteers should be provided with a greatcoat and a water-bottle, it was by no means a trifling question as to whether 180,000 men deserved some consideration from the Government in the matter of equipment and clothing. It was a position of some humiliation to Volunteer officers to have to apply to Parliament for uniforms for their men; but it should be remembered that the Volunteers included in their ranks many men of scanty means, and the capitation grant was yearly consumed in providing ordinary clothing. It was natural to suppose, however, that the War Office should be anxious to see the Volunteers not only well armed but well equipped; yet no commanding officer acquainted with the real character of his men's clothing would venture to take them to Brighton Downs in such a season as this. He had heard with regret that the Government had determined to limit the amount of ammunition supplied to Volunteers to 90 rounds, and to give none for marksmen or recruits. Surely it was not intended that as soon as a man had become a marksman he was to throw his rifle aside; and why were recruits not to be drilled in rifle practice? If the Volunteer Force was to be of any use, it was advisable that marksmen of all men should retain their efficiency, and unless it was decided to trust in future to what had been described as "the constitutional backbone" of the Army—which, however, could never for a moment be regarded as equal in efficiency and intelligence to the Volunteers—it was advisable that something more should be done to assist the Volunteer Force. He therefore asked, whether it is the intention of H. M. Secretary of State for War to supply the Volunteers with cloaks or greatcoats, haversacks and 15 water-bottles, and to issue ammunition for recruits?
§ THE MARQUESS OF RIPONsaid, that, in the absence of Lord Northbrook, he would reply to the Question. In 1870, when the capitation grant was last settled, a Committee, over which the present Inspector General of Volunteers presided, made a Report to the War Office as to the expenses of Volunteer corps, and formed an estimate of the sum required as the capitation grant; and experience had shown that the 10s. for efficients, and £1 for extra efficients, together with the further grant of £2 10s. for officers and sergeants claimed as efficients, gave a sum equal to about 5s. a head for the whole force. It was very-satisfactory to find that 10,000 officers and sergeants claimed the grant as efficients. The arrangements made for the grant were held to be sufficient to provide Volunteers with capes, haversacks, and water-bottles, which were included in the calculations made, and the Government, therefore, did hot intend to supply those articles. At the same time, in such a case as the Autumn Manœuvres of last year, a different rule might be followed. Last year the Volunteers engaged in those manœuvres did receive greatcoats from the Government stores, being, of course, required to return them to the stores when the manœuvres were over. As regards ammunition, it was thought that 90 rounds were sufficient to provide for training recruits. Sixty rounds were to be expended in class firing, and the remaining 30 in file and volley firing and in skirmishing. Generally, the 60 rounds were used, but the 30 were not in all cases required, so that the surplus was available for recruits. If, however, any corps could show that the whole of the 90 rounds had been expended in the manner prescribed, the War Office would issue additional ammunition for training recruits.
§ THE DUKE OF RICHMONDobjected to the comparison raised between the Volunteers and Militia by the noble Lord (Lord Truro) who had put the Question, and protested against his assertion that the Militia could not compete with the Volunteers either in efficiency or intelligence.