§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at the church parade on St. Patrick's Day at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, the officer in command ordered all the cadets wearing shamrock to remove it; and can he explain why the cadets at the Royal Military Academy are specially exempted from the permission accorded generally to the Army by the late Queen.
§ *MR. BRODRICKThe Governor of the Royal Military Academy informs me that cadets were allowed to wear shamrock on St. Patrick's Day at all the parades except church parade. At this particular parade the bunches of shamrock worn in the helmets were of such abnormal proportions, and occasioned so much jocularity and unsteadiness in the ranks, that the officer on duty directed their removal in the interests of the respect due to divine service.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANDid the subaltern in charge give the order on his own responsibility?
§ *MR. BRODRICKYes; and I think that under the circumstances he was probably justified.