§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any attempt has been or will be made to enforce the provision contained in the Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Army that "the commanding officer is to discountenance any disposition in his officers to gamble?"
§ MR. E. STANHOPEI have every reason to believe that Commanding Officers do use every endeavour to discountenance gambling in their Regiments, and with very satisfactory results.
§ MR. SUMMERSDoes the right hon. Gentleman understand that, by Section 7, Paragraph 5, of the Regulations, the Commanding Officer is called upon to "discountenance any disposition in his officers to gamble?"
§ MR. E. STANHOPEYes, Sir; I perfectly understand that.
§ MR. COBB (Warwick, S.E., Rugby)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any communication has been received at the War Office from any officer in the Army, or from any other source, which enables him to contradict the statements which have been generally published in the Press, connecting the names of a Field Marshal, a General, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Scots Guards with a case of gambling and alleged cheating in Yorkshire in September last; whether he is aware that legal proceedings have been commenced by one of such officers relating to certain allegations which have been made connected with his conduct at the gaming table; and whether, pending these proceedings, he will take steps to prevent any officer connected with them from being retired? I also wish to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has personally seen either of the three officers upon this subject?
§ MR. E. STANHOPENo communication has been received which enables me 678 to contradict the statement published in the Press. I understand that legal proceedings have been commenced by one of the officers alluded to. It is, therefore, not proposed to allow any officer connected with the case at present to retire. With regard to the further question of the hon. Member, I must reserve within my own discretion to see anyone whom I may think necessary upon any subject in regard to which I have to answer in Parliament.
§ MR. COBBAm I to gather from the answer of the right hon. Gentleman that he has not personally seen any officer concerned?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEThe hon. Gentleman is certainly not to gather anything of the sort from my answer.