The War Office have resolved to adopt for a time
Special measures to meet the shortage of officers in the cavalry. In an official circular'issued on Monday it is announced that the Army Council are prepared to receive applications for com- missions on probation from gentlemen who have had no preliminary training in a Military College. Candidates must be between the ages of nineteen and twenty-three, and possess either a school leaving certificate, a qualifying educational certificate, or the equivalent of these certifi- cates as set forth in the Regulations relating to the granting of commissions in the Regular Army to officers in the Militia and Yeomanry. They must also furnish evidence of good character during the four years previous to nomination, and pass the medical examination enforced in the case of candidates for commissions in the Army. After two years' service on probation, and subject to passing such professional examinations as may be imposed, and to being well reported upon in every respect, candidates will be permanently gazetted to commissions as Second Lieutenants. We have nothing to say against the system of probationers, which, we believe, is sound, and is working well in the Guards. But it is doubtful whether any solid advantage is likely to result from any expedient which fails to cut at the root of the evil,—the maintenance of the bad tradition that excludes all but the sons of rich men from our cavalry regiments.
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