§ Mr. LANE-FOXasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of arming the Yeomanry regiments that are to be retained as cavalry with Vickers' guns rather than Hotchkiss rifles; and whether some decision can be come to on this matter before the winter months, so as to allow for training in the use of the guns during the winter evenings?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is most important that the whole Army, both Regular and territorial, should be armed alike. Hotchkiss are being retained both for Regular cavalry and for yeomanry, as they are considered the most suitable existing weapon, and financial considerations do not permit of the introduction of a new weapon. No difficulty is anticipated in issuing Hotchkiss guns before the winter to those yeomanry regiments who have a sufficient number of men. It is under consideration to abolish machine gun squadrons, and, instead, to add a few Vickers' guns to each cavalry regiment; if this is done it will be in the nature of an experiment which, if successful, would then certainly be applied to the Territorial Army as well.