Orders of the Day — Earl of Cavan (Speech).

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 14 Mai 1924.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Stephen Walsh Mr Stephen Walsh , Ince

I know; I am referring to the hon. Gentleman who raised the point. Surely no two men can undertake in reference to an engagement of this character that when one has to be absent he is to tell the other not only the points upon which he is to speak, but the exact expressions he is to use. That did not take place and cannot take place in any circumstances. I was asked, Would it not have been better or would it not have been right to have replied for myself on these matters in this House? I did so reply upon every point to which the Chief of the Imperial General Staff referred in his speech at the Royal Academy. I might not have replied effectively. My knowledge, indeed, is not encyclopædic. I have only been a very few weeks in office but I have endeavoured within my limited opportunities to make myself acquainted with the points that came up for discussion upon the Estimates, and upon every one of those points I replied.

What were the points that were raised by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff? The first point was the mechanicalisation of the Army. That was specially referred to by the hon. and gallant Member for Chichester (Lieut.-Colonel Rudkin). I stated, to the best of my ability, what had taken place. It was probably thought, and very properly thought, that mechanicalisation had not gone to a desirable degree, but that is quite a matter of opinion, and I cannot speak, from my limited knowledge, as to whether it had or had not. I replied, however, to the best of my ability. The next point was research and experiment, and I especially praised what had been done, in what I thought was a glowing passage of words. The next point was the machine-gun equipment, which was raised by three or four hon. and gallant Gentlemen below the Gangway. I submitted the information at my disposal, and said to the House that, although there are not so many divisions as there were during the War, or, indeed, as before the War, in so far as the divisions are in existence, their equipment is carried to a higher degree of efficiency than before the War. Of course, many of my hon. and gallant Friends doubted that, and they were perfectly entitled to doubt it. It is a matter upon which opinions may vary. But I did my best to reply. The next point was that of the education and training of officers.