20. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will bring to the notice of the Army Council the desirability of selecting from the lower ranks of serving officers of the Army a dozen or more officers, not above the rank of captain, who should be specially trained and afterwards appointed to take over higher command, in view of the importance of utilising the brains, imagination and initiative which exists amongst the thousands of officers now serving who have not attained field rink?
§ Mr. EdenAll promotion to higher acting and temporary rank in war is by merit and not by seniority. There is, thus, every chance for the young officer of outstanding merit to reach higher rank.
Mr. De la BèreDoes my right hon. Friend not realise that modern warfare requires both drive and initiative, and that antiquity and obsolete and defunct minds are quite useless?
§ Mr. EdenAs far as the General Staff and the general officers now commanding are concerned, I do not recognise the hon. Gentleman's definition.
§ Captain BellengerCan the right hon. Gentleman state how many junior officers who are not Regular serving officers have the chance of rising much higher than major, even in this war?
§ Mr. EdenThe hon. and gallant Gentleman surely knows enough of the Army to answer that question for himself.