BRITISH ARMY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19860, 25 July 1934, Page 9

BRITISH ARMY

BLOCK IN PROMOTIONS. MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION OFFERED. British Official wireless (Received July 24, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, July 23. Mr Douglas Hacking (Under-Secre-tary for Home Affairs), said that a committee with Lord Stanhope, (Parliamentary Secretary for War), as chairman, had examined the block in promotion of infantry officers, and as a result certain exceptional measures had been decided on. Promotions had been made to the rank of MajorGeneral, Lieutenant-General, and General, in place of general officers, who had been permitted to retire prematurely. The net result at the moment had been to make certain promotions in those ranks, and there consequently would be an increasing number affecting the lower ranks. Officers of the rank of Major or below, whose commission bore the date before January, 1919, would be invited to retire voluntarily with special terms in retired pay and gratuity. If sufficient volunteers were not forthcoming. it would be necessary to select officers for compulsory retirement with the same special terms. It was further proposed to exercise a greater degree of selection as regards the promotion of officers from Major to Lieutenant-Colonel. Majors will not be allowed to serve beyond three year’s in that rank, unless they are considered fit to assume command. It is provided that no such offlcr will be placed on half-pay before the age of 45.