§ GENERAL SHUTEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he can take steps to stop the supersession of regimental lieutenant-colonels now taking place by the action of paragraph (f), Article 22, Clause 124, of the Royal Warrant of September, 1877, whereby their positions have suddenly and considerably been altered for the worse; whether, if (as sanctioned by this late Warrant) appointments which a captain would be competent to hold are to qualify for the rank of full colonel, it will not tend largely to increase the list of colonels, which it is an object to reduce; and, whether, instead of thus lowering the standard of practical military experience required for the higher ranks of the Army by allowing an increased number of small appointments to be considered as qualifying for full colonel, he will consider the advantage to the public service of reducing the number to those higher appointments only, in the fulfilment of which, a real qualification for high command is likely to be acquired?
§ COLONEL STANLEY, in reply, said, he was afraid that he could only answer very generally the Question of his hon. 27 and gallant Friend. A small Committee had been appointed to consider this subject. The Committee had presented their Report; but he thought that it would be necessary to refer it back to them with reference to certain particular points.