§ MR. STACPOOLEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether Captains attached to the Musketry and Garrison Instructor's Department are not at present seconded; whether Captains holding appointments for five years in the Topographical, Adjutant General's, and Quarter Master General's Departments are at present seconded; and, if not, whether there is any objection to seconding Captains holding such appointments in the three last mentioned departments?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYSir, the question is of a very technical character, and I am afraid I cannot make my answer to it very clear to the House generally:—1. Captains of the Line are seconded, or, rather, made supernumerary, when employed as Assistant Adjutant Generals or Deputy Assistant Adjutant Generals for Musketry, or as Instructors at Hythe, or as Garrison Instructors. 1355 In the Artillery, officers employed as Garrison Instructors are also made supernumerary; but this is not the case in the Engineers. 2. Captains of the Line and of the Engineers holding appointments for five years in the Topographical, Adjutant General's, and Quartermaster General's Departments are not at present seconded; but all officers of Artillery employed in these Departments are borne supernumerary to the establishment. In reply to the third Question, I have to state that the matter is under consideration.