HC Deb 21 June 1883 vol 280 c1144
VISCOUNT FOLKESTONE

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true, as stated in the "Army and Navy Gazette" of the 9th instant, that at the last examination of Captains for the rank of Major held in January last, 42 out of 63 failed; whether, if true, he has made any inquiry as to the nature of the papers set; and, whether he is aware that it is the general opinion of those officers who have seen the papers on Tactics, that they were far too severe and too long to be answered properly in the time given?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

At the examination referred to 164 officers attempted to pass, and only 28 failed. As regards the papers on tactics, out of the 28 officers who failed to pass the examination only 14 failed in tactics, of whom 13 would have been otherwise disqualified. The counting standard is not very high—only 4. Out of those examined, one officer obtained full marks, and seven were able to double the counting standard.