MR. NEWDIGATEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that in the 438 infantry and cavalry second lieutenants are promoted to fill vacancies irrespective of their service, and, seeing that about ninety lieutenants of the Royal Artillery have been promoted to the rank of captain in the Horse and Field List during the present year, the rule that second lieutenants of the Royal Artillery can in no case receive promotion until they have served for three years in that rank may be reconsidered.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe abnormal rapidity of promotion in Line regiments to the rank of lieutenant has drawn attention to the rate of promotion to that rank in the Artillery and Engineers. It is impossible to secure uniformity of promotion in the various units of the service, but the Secretary of State is considering whether promotion to the rank of lieutenant in the Artillery and Engineers should not at the present time be somewhat accelerated.