GENERAL CODRINGTONsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary for War, Whether in the office lately established—namely, that of "Military Auditor," attached to the troops in China—any separate authority is given independent of, and with financial control over, the general officer in command of the troops; whether the expenditure required on active service in the field must not necessarily, as heretofore, be decided on the sole responsibility of the general officer; whether those persons employed in the office of military auditor with the troops in China are amenable to, or independent of, the provisions of the Mutiny Act?
§ SIR JOHN RAMSDENsaid, he could assure his hon. and gallant Friend that the appointment of the military auditor attached to the troops in China would not in any way interfere with the authority of the general in command of the forces. The duties of a military auditor were to audit accounts, to settle claims, and to be a referee on all points of financial regulation in the army; and it was expected that, by his assistance, references home of minor points would be avoided. In the instructions to the military auditor it was particularly stated that he would exercise his functions subject to the directions and instructions of the general commanding the forces; but perhaps it would be more satisfactory if he were to lay a copy of those instructions on the table, which he should ask leave to do on that evening. With regard to the question whether the persons employed in the office of military auditor would be amenable to the provisions of the Mutiny Act, his answer was, that all persons connected with the War Department, when employed under the command of a general officer in the field, were, by the second clause of the Mutiny Act, brought under the provisions of that Act.