§ LORD CECIL MANNERS () Leicestershire, MeltonI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that an 227 officer whose service up to within a recent date has been confined to infantry is appointed to command the 2nd Pro-visional Regiment of Hussars, and that an officer now on the strength of an infantry regiment has been appointed, or is about to be appointed, adjutant of the same provisional regiment, he will say whether there is any deficiency of cavalry officers qualified or eligible to serve as colonels or adjutants of cavalry units.
§ Mr. BRODRICKLieut.-Colonel de Lisle, who commanded a cavalry brigade in South Africa, under the immediate orders of Major-General Elliot, Inspector-General of Cavalry in India, with marked distinction and success, was on the 22nd October promoted to a majority in the 5th Dragoon Guards, and he has since been selected by the Commander-in-Chief for the 2nd Provisional Regiment of Hussars at Hounslow. It is clearly desirable that an officer, of whatever arm of the service, who has proved competent to command a cavalry brigade in the field, should continue in the cavalry arm. The adjutant of the provisional regiment is a riding-master of long cavalry service. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.
AN HON. MEMBERIs it the intention of the Government to continue the practice of appointing officers from foot regiments to the command of mounted troops, especially in time of war?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe Commander-in-Chief will make any appointments he may consider necessary for the good of the service. I do not suppose it will become the usual practice to remove officers from one branch of the service to another, but I am sure the House will desire that the advantage of the public service shall stand first in these matters.
§ Instruction of Naval Officers:
§ Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Admiralty has approved of new regulations as to the instruction of naval officers; and, if so, whether a copy will be laid upon the Tabic of the House.
§ The CIVIL LORD OF THEADMIRALTY (Mr. PRETYMAN, Suffolk,) WoodbridgeYes, Sir; new regulations with 228 respect to the instruction of naval officers are in preparation, and will be shortly approved. A statement with regard to the changes contemplated will be issued at a very early date, and a copy will be laid upon the Table of the House.
§ Officers' Chargers in India.
§ Mr. BUTCHERI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that the cost of buying chargers for officers of the Royal Horse Artillery and others is greater in India than in this country, and that, owing to the strain placed on horses in India by the manoeuvres and by the climate, the risks of death and injury to horses in India are greater than at home; and whether, in view of the fact that officers of the Royal Horse Artillery and others serving in this country will, under a recent Army Order, be provided with two chargers free of cost, the Government of India will take steps to grant a similar benefit to officers of the Royal Horse Artillery and others serving in India.
The SECRETARY of STATE FOR INDIA (LORD GEORGEHAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingI am informed that no Army Order has yet been issued on the subject of the hon. Member's Question. If and when such an Order is issued it will be communicated in ordinary course to the Government of India, with whom it will rest to make whatever recommendation they may consider desirable in consequence.