§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War, If he will explain the circumstances under which the 10th Hussars were sent to India a few months ago without their Lieutenant Colonel; if such an arrangement is not extremely unusual; if the fact that the Lieutenant Colonel is only now gazetted out indicates that special leave was given him to remain at home to enable him to complete his period for retirement without going to India with his Regiment; and, if it is intended for the future to show the same consideration to all Officers, whatever their rank?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, when the 10th Hussars sailed for India it was in contemplation to submit to Her Majesty a new Royal Warrant, enabling the authorities to permit Lieutenant Colonels of regiments of sufficient service to retire to half-pay, on their own application, in the same way as under the new system Lieutenant Colonels appointed after the 31st of October, 1871, will retire compulsorily. The Lieutenant Colonel of the 10th Hussars had applied to retire, and it was intended to permit him to do so as soon as the Royal Warrant should have issued. The only effect of adopting any other course would have been that the public would have had to pay his passage out to India, and he would have been put to the expense of a return passage in a few weeks after his arrival in India. It is not true that the object of giving him special leave was to enable him to complete his service, since it had already been completed, The same circumstances cannot it is evident occur again.