The Times has been asserting for many weeks that the
new magazine rifle, now distributed to the troops, is complicated, -expensive, and when out of order difficult to repair; and on 'Tuesday, Mr. Marjoribanks brought the subject before the House, asking for a Commission of Inquiry. He maintained that the best experts thought the rifle little superior to the Martini-Henry, though it costs three times as much, and com- plained that the spring jammed readily, while the superior speed of firing lasted only for a short time. Mr. Hanbury agreed with the mover's general view of the rifle, but depre- cated a Commission, holding that the Secretary for War had ;ample information, and ought to state who was responsible for the rifle. Mr: Stanhope at once replied, stating that the primary responsibility rested with the Director of Artillery, and the ultimate responsibility with himself. He admitted that the rifle was complicated and expensive, but maintained that after certain improvements it would be one of the best in the world. It had been most severely tested, and reports upon 350 specimens of the weapon distributed to all climates had all been favourable. The motion for a Commission was consequently lost by 108 to 74. The victory in the debate lay wholly with the Department, but outsiders have an uneasy feeling that the rifle may be a bad one for all that. Could experts differ so much over an unobjectionable weapon? The Government relies absolutely upon trials ; but then, are the weapons distributed as good as those manufactured for the express purpose of satisfying experts ?
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