§ SIR W. WEDDERBURN (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether Colonel Langtry has been passed over for promotion to the rank of major-general, although he has 37 years' good service, and is eligible under the terms of the Royal Warrant, 1897 (paragraph 44); whether lie is aware that Colonel Langtry took part in the Abyssinian Campaign, both advances to Kandahar, operations in Yarkistan, and the Boer Campaign, was selected to command Sir Michael Biddulph's escort for the first reconnaissance into the Zhob Valley, and was strongly recommended) by the various generals under whom he 'served; whether purchase officers, among whom was Colonel Langtry,' were assured that they would not suffer either pecuniarily or in promotion; 1164 whether one colonel who has superseded him has never commanded a regiment; and whether, looking to these facts, further consideration will be given to Colonel Langtry's claims?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSColonel Langtry was not promoted major-general because he was not considered by the Army Board to possess the qualifications required in a general officer. Colonel Langtry was a captain when purchase was abolished, and has no claim to promotion to the rank of major-general on that score. I regret that I cannot hold out any hope that his case will be reconsidered.