§ MR. MONTAGUE GUESTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that the Officers of the three Regiments of Guards, gazetted on and after the 31st of October, 1871, are to be deprived of their Commissions as Ensigns and Lieu- 129 tenants, and, if so, whether the right hon. Gentleman will state the Act or Regulation for the Army in accordance with which these Officers are to be thus dealt with; whether the War Office authorities have obtained the signatures of any of these Officers, being minors, to any documents without the knowledge of the parents or guardians of such Officers; whether these Officers are not performing the whole duties attached to their commissioned rank as Lieutenants in the Army, and whether several of these Officers have not been presented to Her Majesty on their appointment; and, whether, in the event of their being forced to resign their Commissions, Her Majesty's Government will reimburse them for any expenses as regards uniform, mess, extras, &c., that they may have incurred as Lieutenants?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, the officers who were gazetted as ensigns and lieutenants in the Brigade of Guards received their appointments subject to the new arrangements, and stated in writing that they fully understood that they did so. Accordingly, their commissions will be probationary only, and will be subject in all respects to the conditions of the Royal Warrant of October, 1871, and they will not be allowed to obtain any advantage, when confirmed in their rank, over the other officers entering the Army at the same time. Since, however, they have been gazetted as ensigns and lieutenants, they will, while probationers, be permitted to bear the title of sub-lieutenants and lieutenants.