ARMY ESTIMATES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 213, 7 March 1912, Page 5

ARMY ESTIMATES.

EFFICIENCY OF BRITISH ARMS. Bv Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, March 5. In the House of Commons, Mr. Seely, in introducing the Army Estimates, mnfcesitatingly denied that there was a particle of truth in the Opposition charges of the inferiority of the army rifle, which was extraordinarily reliable, as proved in the South African war. (The heavy guns, horse field artillery, and machine guns were the best in Europe. Part of the present air battalion was absorbed by the new flying corps, embracing soldiers, sailors and civilians. It was proposed to train 180 officers yearly, and to purchase 131 aeroplanes. Mr. Bonar Law repeated that the rifle was inferior in trajectory and comSsred anfavorably with foreign arms, 'he delay in improving it was inexcusable. Lord Haldane, replying to a question, ■aid that if war had broken out last ■urnmer, our rifle, if inferior in trajectory, had many advantages over the German rifle. REORGANISATION NECESSARY. Received 7, 12.30 a.m. London, March 6. Lord Wyndham, during the army debate in the House, of Commons, expressed his dissatisfaction at Lord Haldane's scheme to secure national safety. ffhe expeditionary force was below strength, and he urged an increase in the home establishments of line regiments. Lient.-Gen. Sir R. Pole-Carew, K.C.V., declared that the whole military forces Heeded reorganisation, and that the existing scheme courted disaster. Two--jttrdi of the mflnej devoted to Texri-