§ MR. A. SMITHasked the Secretary of State for War, Under what circumstances three officers of the late Military Train, whose first commissions are dated respectively 21st September 1855, 23rd November 1855, and 29th October 1858, and whose commissions as Captains are dated respectively 26th December 1863, 21st June 1864, and 1st April 1868, have been appointed, under date 15th February 1870, Acting Commissaries, over the heads of officers of the late Commissariat whose first appointments date 1st April 1855, and whose commissions under which they held the relative rank of Captain were dated November 1859; and, whether one or more of such Commissariat officers had not been recommended for their special acquaintance with transport duties?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, in amalgamating the several departments which form the Supply and Transport sub-department, a certain number of places in the higher ranks were assigned to the duties hitherto performed by the several departments respectively, and these places were assigned to officers who had hitherto performed the duties in the old departments. In the Military Train a large number of officers in the higher ranks declined to join the new department, and their juniors obtained the advantage. I am not aware that any departmental officers, qualified and wishing to undertake transport duties, were rejected.