CAPTAIN BEAUMONTasked the Secretary of State for War, How many first 42 Captains of the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery respectively are to be made Majors, and, bearing in mind that this promotion does not affect the general promotion of the Corps, what steps he proposes to take to remove the state of stagnation at present existing?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, it is intended to make all the first captains of the Royal Artillery majors, and to revise the establishment of the Royal Engineers, so as to place them upon as good a footing in respect of promotion as the Royal Artillery. I do not agree with the argument suggested in the Question, for by the proposed arrangements promotion in both corps will be brought up to about the standard periods.
§ LORD EUSTACE CECILasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether there is any truth in the report which has appeared in the newspapers, that—
No steps have yet been taken to form a new advanced class of officers of the Royal Artillery at Woolwich, although the class now under instruction has nearly completed its studies?
§ MR. CARDWELLIt has been represented to me by the Deputy Adjutant General of the Royal Artillery that the advanced class for officers had so few candidates that it was difficult to justify its maintenance, the expense being out of proportion to the utility. I have therefore appointed a Committee, of which the Director General of Military Education is the head, to consider what steps it is desirable to take upon the subject.