§ Sir JOHN RANDLESasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a considerable number of men who were encouraged to join the ranks of the Army as being the most useful way in which they could obtain commissions have now, after being offered commissions, been refused leave by their commanding officers who prefer to retain them under their own hands; will the further attention of such commanding officers be called to the importance of not withholding leave in such cases?
§ Mr. TENNANTCommanding officers have been instructed to bear in mind the requirements of the Army as a whole, and to give each application careful consideration. They are to submit the names of suitable candidates as soon as they can be spared without material detriment to the42W efficiency of the units to which they belong. Commanding officers are held to be the best judges of the suitability of soldier candidates serving under their command, and while they have been reminded that it is essential to provide a sufficient reserve of trained officers in order to supply rein forcements for the units in the field, it is not proposed to interfere with their discretionary powers in regard to individual cases.