§ MR. NEVILLE (Liverpool, Exchange)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commander-in-Chief has expressed a desire that marching columns should be encouraged in the Volunteer Force; whether sanction was refused for a marching column of about 300 men in Liverpool, at Whitsuntide, on the ground of a slight technical irregularity in the form of application, after 10 days' delay; and whether such refusal was communicated too late to allow of the irregularity being remedied?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The desire to encourage marching columns of Volunteers is proved by a Circular issued this year sanctioning a marching allowance for Volunteers so engaged. The particular case referred to was one in which it was found that the application to form a marching column had emanated from a junior officer without the knowledge and against the wishes of his Commanding Officer. Under these circumstances, the General Officer Commanding the Northern District was unable to entertain the proposal.