§ GENERAL SHUTEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will favourably consider the hardship of not allowing officers to reckon for pension and retirement their services before the age of 20, even although, as is the case in some instances, a portion of those services has been performed before the enemy in the field?
§ COLONEL STANLEY, in reply, said, he was afraid that he should not be justified in holding out to his hon. and gallant Friend any hope that the portion of the Royal Warrant to which his Question referred was likely to be altered. The question was most carefully discussed during the time that the Warrant was being prepared. Although, undoubtedly, where the services had been performed in the field in face of the enemy, the line laid down might press hardly upon officers, yet it was considered necessary to fix a line of definite age, and after most careful consideration, that age was fixed at 20.