§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether Captain the honourable A. C. Hobart of the Royal Navy, who name was struck off on his entering the Turkish Service in accordance with the rules of the British Service, and who was then em- 373 ployed in subjecting the Christians of Crete, has since, while still in the Turkish Service, been restored to the British Service and permitted to obtain rank and retired pay to which he was not previously entitled; if so, by whom and when he was struck off the Navy List, and by whom and when restored; whether Captain Hobart was placed on the active list before being retired, the amount of his retired pay, from what date it commenced, and whether it has been commuted; what Order in Council or Treasury sanction was obtained authorizing the grant of retired pay to a person who had been out of the public service for several years; and, whether there will be any objection to lay upon the Table the Correspondence between Captain Hobart, the Admiralty, and the Foreign Office with reference to that Officer's removal from and restoration to the Navy, and to any intermediate applications from him; and also whether the calculation of his service for retired pay will be given?
§ MR. HUNTIn reply to the Question of the hon. Baronet, I have to state that Captain Hobart's name was removed from the list of the Royal Navy in March, 1868, by direction of Mr. Corry, then First Lord of the Admiralty, at the instance of my noble Friend (Lord Derby), then, as now, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, for entering the service of a foreign Government without previous permission from Her Majesty's Government. He was restored to the active list, and the same day placed on the retired list—namely, on the 28th of November, 1874, by Order in Council obtained by me at the instance of the Foreign Office. His retired pay, which has not been commuted, commenced from the same day. His retired pay of £1 a-day was calculated on the ordinary basis under Order in Council of 1870. As to whether there is any objection to produce the Correspondence it would be necessary to consult Lord Derby.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, under present circumstances, any measures have been taken or will be taken to prevent Naval or Military Officers holding retired rank, pay, or pension, or obtaining commutation money for pay or pension from entering the Turkish Service, and especially whether there is now anything to prevent an Officer 374 desiring to act contrary to the rules of his own Service, or without the permission of the proper authorities, from commuting retired pay or pension and then entering the Turkish Service, and even engaging in war with an ally of Her Majesty in case that ally should attempt to enforce on the Porte objects which Her Majesty's Government has lately attempted to obtain by remonstrance?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYIn reply to the Question of the hon. Member I have to state that the rules of the Military Service are:—1. No officer on retired or half pay can enter a foreign army without leave, under a penalty of removal from the Army and a loss of emoluments. 2. Officers who commute under present Regulations are no longer in the Army, and Government has therefore no control over their actions. Officers applying to commute are not bound, either by Regulation or Act of Parliament, to give their reasons for wishing to commute, and it is not intended to make any alteration in the Regulations in this respect.