§ SIR BALDWYN LEIGHTONasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that there are a large number of subaltern vacancies in cavalry regiments at present; if so, whether that arises from any want of candidates for commissions; and, whether he will consider the propriety of advising that the examinations should be made more practical and less scholastic, or what steps will be taken in the matter, seeing that we are on the eve of extensive military operations?
§ MR. CHILDERSYes, Sir; there have been a certain number of vacancies in the Cavalry contemporaneously with a large supernumerary list in the Infantry, the main reason being that the sons of wealthier parents are generally candidates for Cavalry commissions, and do not necessarily take the highest places in the competitions. For the moment we have made arrangements not inconsistent with the present rules as to qualification to meet the immediate exigencies; but the whole subject 42 has been for some time under my consideration and is being discussed by a Committee appointed some short time since.