§ COLONEL ALEXANDERasked the Secretary of State for War, If he would explain why, as combatant officers have recently been promoted in large numbers, without calling for Reports of General Officers on their efficiency, such a course was considered necessary in the case of Quartermasters only?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, in reply to the hon. and gallant Colonel, I have to inform him that there was no difference made as to the Reports on combatant officers and on quartermasters. Reference was at first made to the annual confidential Reports, and where they raised any doubt special Reports were called for in the cases of some regiments abroad by telegraph. The result was that all the promotions of combatant officers were settled in The Gazette of July 26, 1718 and the appointments of quartermasters to the rank of captain will be shortly gazetted. As I said yesterday, the promotion of these quartermasters will date from the 1st of July.