General M`CALMONTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many officers of the general reserve of officers have obtained any benefit from the recent orders under w[...]ch they are allowed to claim a proportion of their former service; whether he is aware that officers who have applied under this order for promotion to major on completion of fifteen years' service have been informed that they are only entitled to do so if they are already the senior captains in their regiments; and whether this decision is in accordance with the special committee's recommendations?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONOne hundred and thirty-seven officers have so far actually been promoted. Other promotions are taking place as recommendations are received. Besides these promotions a considerable number of officers, though not actually yet due for promotion, take a higher place on the roll of officers of their regiments, and will consequently be promoted earlier than would formerly have been the case. A case has occurred in which, though a Reserve of Officers officer had fifteen years' service to reckon, he could not be promoted as the officer next junior to him in the regiment had not completed that service. The Reserve of Officers officer is not eligible after fifteen years, but only when the officer next junior in the Regular establishment is promoted. This is in accordance with the Committee's recommendation.