§ Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what seniority is necessary for a captain from the lower deck in order to be given command of a cruiser in a sea-going fleet, observing there are several captains of the same seniority and some junior to a captain from the lower deck now in command of such cruisers?
Lord StanleyThe seniority necessary to enable a captain from the lower deck to be given command of a cruiser in a seagoing fleet is exactly the same as that required by any other captain. At the present time the required seniority is 2½ to three years. The captain from the lower deck referred to in the latter half of the question is the first captain of his batch to be given a command at sea. He was appointed in command of a sloop at one year's seniority and completed this command two months ago. He is not, therefore, immediately due for another sea command. There are a number of captains senior to him who have not yet had a cruiser command.