§ COLONEL BARNE, in rising to call attention to the unsatisfactory condition of the Army; and to move—
That the chief command of the Army should he placed in the hands of the most experienced soldiers and administrators in Her Majesty's Service; that the youth of the men now serving in the Army renders them unfit to under go the hardships of a campaign,said, he thought he expressed the opinion of nine-tenths of the Army when he declared that great discontent prevailed among the officers in consequence both of the slowness of promotion, and also of the rawness of the troops whom officers were called upon to lead in the field. In the old days, before the abolition of Purchase, promotion was rendered speedier by arrangement among the officers themselves. In place of that system they had another which was a source of great expense to the country, having cost them in the last year no less a sum than £1,116,112, without giving satisfaction to the Service. He attributed the inefficiency of the men to the short-service system, which had the effect of depriving the Army of men as soon as they became really efficient and serviceable. The youths who entered the Army, 222 were, no doubt, good material, but they were too young to form really reliable soldiers in case of need. They had had three campaigns since the introduction of the short-service system, enabling them to estimate its effect with precision—the Afghan, the Zulu, and the Boer campaigns.
§ Notice taken, that 40 Members were not present; House counted, and 40 Members not being present,
§ House adjourned at a quarter after Ten o'clock.