In the House of Commons very little of importance was
accomplished, or even debated, till Thursday, but on that day several Service matters of moment came under consideration. The first was Mr. Brodrick's answer to Mr. Bromley-Daven- port in regard to the case of Colonel Kinloch. The Secretary of State for War stated that (1) Lord Belhaven and Lord de Saumarez on December 12th made a verbal complaint to the Commander-in-Chief in regard to the trial by subalterns' Courts-Martial ; (2) Lord Roberts took the matter up officially, and on December 13th ordered the General commanding the Home District to investigate the matter [the Commander-in- Chief, according to the usual practice, did not communicate directly with Colonel Kinloch, but solely with the General] ; (3) on December 15th the result of the inquiry and the evidence taken, including that of Colonel Kinloch, was reported to the Adjutant-General ; (4) on December 27th the decision of the Commander-in-Chief was given: it was pro- mulgated at Aldershot on January 3rd, and in London on January 15th; (3) on December 29th Colonel Kinloch asked to see the evidence, and to make a statement; (6) on January 3rd he was informed that he could see the evidence, and that the decision arrived at was formed on his own statement and on the results of his command ; (7) on January 12th the Commander.in-Chief gave Colonel Kinloch a personal interview, as the latter had urged that his personal honour was affected, and accepted his declaration that he was unaware of the punishments in- flicted by the subalterns' Courts-Martial and the treatment of these young officers.
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