69. Major DAVIESasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, at present, owing to the large number of candidates sent home from overseas for admission to Cavalry, Artillery, and Infantry officer Cadet units, candidates from home sources are not accepted for such admission except in a limited number of special cases, and the general rule for candidates, both from home and abroad, is that their rank must not be below that of corporal?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe answer is in the affirmative. Preference is naturally given to candidates who are recommended while serving in the face of the enemy. Recently the course of training in officer Cadet units has been lengthened. Consequently it has been found necessary to cut down the supply of candidates from home sources, and to restrict, as a general rule, admission to these units to candidates who have already been promoted to the rank of corporal. It is felt that candidates who have shown the qualities of leadership in the field will be readily selected for corporal's rank, and these are the men to train for the position of platoon leader. We have found as the War proceeds that we are able to raise our standard, owing to the experience gained by candidates for commissions as non-commissioned officers.