§ LORD BRAYE,in rising to ask whether it was true that, owing to the concealed inequalities of the ground selected, several casualties from falls occurred among the troops reviewed last Wednesday at Aldershot, two of which were reported to have been of a very serious nature; and whether, in the event of a future review of such magnitude, it was contemplated that some less broken ground should be chosen for the purpose, said: My Lords, we learn from the ordinary channels of information that last Wednesday, at the great review at Aldershot, some accidents occurred of a very serious nature: one man broke 1007 his thigh, another broke his leg and his arm, and there were several other accidents of a minor character. I hope that either these reports are not true, or at least that they are exaggerated; and the most satisfactory answer which I could receive from the noble Lord opposite would be a simple negative. If, on the other hand, they are true, and if it appear that they were entirely owing to the unevenness of the ground in that locality at Fox Hill—to the fact that there are so many concealed pitfalls covered with heather, and rows of disused ruts—if that, as I believe, is the case, it will be satisfactory to learn if the Authorities have taken into consideration the changing of the site for a review of such great importance and magnitude as that which took place last Wednesday in the presence of the German Emperor. There is the whole of England to chose from for such a review, because these reviews are not very frequent, and troops could be amassed at other localities. If the physical difficulties which exist at Aldershot cannot be overcome, and I believe they cannot, it will be satisfactory to learn that the Authorities of the War Office are taking the matter into consideration. These, my Lords, are the reasons why I venture to put the question which stands in my name.
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Lord HARRIS)I regret to say that there were four accidents at the manœuvres on Wednesday last, one of them of a serious nature, being, as the noble Lord said, a fracture. That and another arose from the upsetting of a gun. The second man who was injured is progressing favourably. The other two cases arose from horses falling; one man is progressing favourably and the other has returned to duty. I have no official information as to whether those accidents were due to the concealed inequalities of the ground, or to any carelessness on the part of the men themselves. In any case, I am distinctly of opinion that the Military Authorities will be unable to forego the advantages to be derived from training troops on uneven ground, which accustoms them to take advantage of the cover afforded by its inequalities.