§ 67. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Brigadier-General Seely has been appointed to command part of the Canadian contingent?
§ 69. Mr. RONALD M'NEILLalso asked whether the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Ilkeston Division of Derbyshire has been promoted to brigadier-general; what battalions form the brigade under the right hon. Gentleman's 29 command; and whether the appointment of an ex-Yeomanry officer to so responsible a command implies a dearth of officers competent to command a brigade who have served in the Regular Army and have been in constant military employment since joining the Army?
§ 72. Lord C. BERESFORDfurther asked whether the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Ilkeston Division has been offered and has accepted the command of the Cavalry division of the Canadian contingent sent over by the Dominion of Canada to take part in the War; what the right hon. Gentleman's qualifications are; what regiment he commanded and for how long; and whether there is a feeling of irritation, not only among the whole of the Canadian contingent but in the Dominion of Canada, at this appointment, looking to the fact that there are several distinguished officers of Canadian birth and origin who might have been offered and would have accepted this command?
§ Mr. TENNANTMy right hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for the Ilkeston Division of Derbyshire, has been appointed to command, with the temporary rank of brigadier-general, the Cavalry Brigade, composed of the 2nd King Edward's Horse and two regiments of Canadian Mounted Troops with Brigade Artillery. He served in command of mounted troops in South Africa, and has commanded a Yeomanry regiment of which he has been an officer for twenty-two years. He has been for six months on Sir John French's staff, during which time he has acquired a unique knowledge of the conditions in which the present War is being fought. His appointment was recommended by the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, and confirmed by the Secretary of State for War.
Mr. CHANCELLORCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the suggestions involved in these questions are due in any sense to politics?
§ Mr. TENNANTI cannot say.
§ Lord C. BERESFORDIs it not perfectly possible the Secretary of State for War knows nothing about the state of Canadian opinion? Has not the Censor stopped the publication of cablegrams and Press notices from Canada? Is the House to understand that this country does not 30 want to know what Canadian opinion is on a question which to Canada must be very interesting?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am unable to say what the Censor has or has not struck out of the published documents. I have no knowledge of that. I can only inform the House and the Noble Lord that the only Canadian officer with whom I have discussed the matter not only accepted the appointment but informed me that it was highly popular.
§ Mr. RONALD M'NEILLHas the right hon. Gentleman made himself aware of the Canadian opinion as expressed in the-Canadian Press?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, Sir, I have not.
§ Mr. HOGGEHas the right hon. Gentleman observed that Lord Salisbury has been made a Brigadier-General? Will he explain what are his military qualifications?
§ Mr. TENNANTLord Salisbury has been a Special Reserve officer for at least as long as my right hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWhy have they not attacked him?