§ CAPTAIN R. G. W. CHALONER (Wilts, Westbury)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War (1) whether a General Order was issued a short time ago by the General Officer commanding the Home District, calling attention to the small number of Militia Officers attending the school of musketry at Hythe, and expressing a strong wish that at least one officer per battalion should attend the next course; (2) whether, in consequence, a large number of officers did so attend, and, after their arrival at the school, were informed that they would have to attend at their own expense, and without the usual pay and allowances; and, if so, why they were not informed of this when their application to attend was first sanctioned; and (3) whether, under these circumstances, he can see his way to granting them the usual pay and allowances?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. W. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe statement in the first paragraph of the Question is accurate. The number of officers who attended was 16, of whom five, being above the rank of subaltern, were not entitled to their expenses under the existing regulations, of which they were presumed to be aware. The question of changing the regulations is, however, under consideration.