§ MR. G. LODERI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, by the promotion of Captain O'Connor to a majority in the Inniskilling Dragoons, four officers senior to him, who have seen service in South Africa, have been superseded; whether he can state what special reasons existed for his promotion; and, whether the Inspector General of Cavalry was consulted on the question?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,) Stirling BurghsThe vacancy arose from voluntary retirement, a condition of which is that it shall be filled by an officer of at least 18 years' service. The senior captain in the regiment had barely 14 years' service; but Captain O'Connor, who was brought in for the majority though junior as a captain, had had 12 years in the ranks, which enabled his service to be reckoned over 18 years The Inspector General of Cavalry was not consulted.