Lord Abinger on Tuesday night carried a motion against the
Government which experts say will very seriously embarrass the War Office. It is well known that promotion in the Artillery has. been so slow as to produce great despondency, and injure the Service by barring men from commands until they were too old to hold them usefully. Mr. Cardwell therefore proposed that the grade of Major, which did not exist in the Artillery, should be added, and that all First Captains should become Majors. The- scheme was accepted, but it was discovered that this promotion would supersede a certain number of Line Captains for a year or two, a supersession especially disliked, because the Artillery are educated men, and earned their commissions, instead of buying them. Lord Abinger consequently proposed that the Royal Warrant should be delayed until a Commission of Inquiry had reported, and carried that motion by 42 to 39. Pro- motion in the Artillery is therefore blocked for two years tosave the feelings of Linesmen, who are enjoying, under the Abolition of Purchase Act, a flow of unusually- rapid advancement. A great Executive act is forbiddem by forty-two irresponsible gentlemen. The expectation, of course, is that Government will bring forward a retirement scheme for the Artillery, instead of a promotion scheme; but there- is another alternative. Why not take a vote of the Commons, issue the warrant, and stand the speeches the Lords will pour- out ? They will break no bones.
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