§ 19. Commander WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether senior Army officers and non-commissioned officers are being appointed to 400 naval units of the Royal Naval Division in France; whether such a step is necessary considering that the Division was raised at the commencement of the War, has served with distinction, and contains a number of officers and men with experience gained on two fronts; and whether such a course will unfairly prejudice--officers and men of those units whose prospects of promotion are limited to their own units by the fact of their serving under the-Navy and not under the Army?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONSome warrant and non-commissioned officers have been sent out specially at the request of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief for certain battalions of the Royal Naval-Division, as he considered it necessary. I am afraid I have no information as to the first part of the question. The matter would lie within the discretion of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief.
§ Commander WEDGWOODIs every opportunity being given to the Naval Division to train for superior commands?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am told that is so.