HL Deb 21 December 1915 vol 20 cc778-80
LORD HAVERSHAM

My Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government why the name of the Crown Prince of Prussia remained in the official Army List of January, 1915, as Colonel-in-Chief of the 11th Hussars, alter the two enemy Emperors had been removed from the King's Dragoon Guards and the Royal Dragoons respectively. The official Army List is published only once a year, but if anybody looks at Hart's Army List for January he will see the name of the Crown Prince of Prussia as Colonel of the 11th Hussars.

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, I should be inclined to predict that one of the results of the warwill be that the eminently German practice of appointing Royal personages of both sexes to high military commands is one that may possibly be considerably modified. I imagine that every belligerent Monarch possesses in his wardrobe a large collection of uniforms belonging to hostile nations; and there is nothing to show that this practice of interchanging high military rank has conduced in any way to peace.

As regards the Question on the Paper, I cannot help thinking that my noble friend is under some misapprehension. The name of the Royal Prince in question was removed from the Army List at the same time as the names of the German Emperor and the Emperor of Austria, in October, 1914. I believe that a statement has appeared in the "Almanach de Gotha" for 1916 to the effect that the Crown Prince of Prussia is still Colonel-in-Chief of the 11th Hussars. But His Majesty's Government have no control over that particular publication, and my noble friend may take it from me that he is under a misapprehension.

LORD HAVERSHAM

I am under no misapprehension at all as regards Hart's Army List. Anybody can refer to it in the Library, and he will see that in that List for January, 1915, the Crown Prince of Prussia is stated to be Colonel-in-Chief of the 11th Hussars.

LORD NEWTON

Then I am afraid Hart's Army List is no more a reliable publication than the "Almanach de Gotha."

House adjourned at twenty minutes before Seven o'clock, till Tomorrow, a quarter past Four o'clock.