§ MR. JACOBY (Derbyshire, Mid.)To ask the Secretary of State for War, whether his attention has been called to the fact that a lieutenant of the Royal Field Artillery took part in the military ride from Brussels to Ostend, a distance of upwards of eighty miles, on27th August, on which occasion it is stated that his horse was so exhausted that it was necessary to destroy it; whether this officer was authorised by his superiors to become a competitor on this occasion; whether any notice has been taken of this officer's action; and whether steps have been, or will be, taken to prevent British officers from taking part in such competitions in future.
§ MR. NORMAN (Wolverhampton, S.)To ask the Secretary of State for War, if he will say whether officers are required to ask permission before engaging in an international sporting contest; whether a lieutenant of the Royal Field Artillery asked permission to take part in the ride from Brussels to Ostend; whether the participation of a British officer in such a performance has the sanction of the Commander-in-Chief; and whether any communication has been addressed to this officer on the subject.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) A lieutenant of the Royal Field Artillery did take part in this ride, after duly obtaining leave to travel abroad for this purpose. Instructions have since been issued by the Commander-in-Chief to General Officers Commanding that he was of opinion that British officers should 214 not take part in these competitions, as he failed to see that any good result could ensue from them.