§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of filling up a certain number of the existing vacancies in the commissioned ranks of the Army by the promotion of some of the senior non-commissioned officers mentioned in despatches in the present war, instead of giving all these vacancies to comparatively inexperienced Militia subalterns and Sandhurst cadets; and whether, seeing that many of these gallant non-commissioned officers may lose their lives before the termination of the present war, he will take steps to see that the Gazette is issued without delay, more especially as such action will not only give satisfaction to the public but also act as an incentive to recruiting.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThe suggestion of the hon. Member has been anticipated; and a communication on the subject was made to Lord Roberts on the 19th January.