yesterday moved to defuse a row over the latest advancements to Major's rank.

And Lt. Col. Allan Rance insisted no short cuts had been taken in the board's picks for senior ranks.

He said: "No officer leapfrogged any other officers. All officers recommended for promotion were eligible for promotion to the next rank.'' Lt. Col. Rance spoke out after Regiment insiders claimed a conflict over potential future Commanding Officers of Bermuda's part-time armed service.

Regiment insiders said recently-promoted Maj. Eddie Lamb was favourite for the top job.

Maj. Lamb -- formerly a captain and adjutant of the Regiment -- was promoted in an unusual step as the adjutant normally serves out the full-time role as Captain. And Regiment CO Lt. Col. Patrick Outerbridge backdated Maj. Nicholas Moore's rank to cover the period when he was in an Acting role. Bermudian Maj.

Moore is a former regular in the British Army.

A Regiment insider claimed the Colonel had been "countermanded'' and that Maj. Lamb's "Civil Service-type'' contract generally precluded promotion -- and that a period as Acting Major was usual.

But others insisted there were no rules to prevent a Captain adjutant being promoted and criticised Lt. Col. Outerbridge's decision to backdate some officers' ranks.

And one said it looked like the Regiment's Officers' Mess was once again splitting along racial lines, with some officers being apparently favoured over others.

But Lt. Col. Rance said: "For anyone to suggest short cuts have been taken is misleading and erroneous.'' He added that there was no need for a probationary period in an acting rank -- or any rules forbidding an adjutant being promoted in the post.

He said: "The question of seniority and leapfrogging may arise by virtue of confusion over the traditional treatment of the post of adjutant. The adjutant who is traditionally appointed as a Captain is nominally made the senior captain.'' And he added: "There is no requirement to make a Major who acts as adjutant the senior Major. There is no leapfrogging at the rank of Major by virtue of a staff appointment.'' Lt. Col. Rance added that it was "unfortunate that individuals are now putting their own spin on the recent promotions and have started to speculate on future succession.'' He said: "All substantive Majors are eligible for consideration for command.

"The process for final selection will involve careful scrutiny of all candidates on a level playing field. The aim is to select the best person to command and to be second-in-command from the pool of eligible officers.'' Lt. Col. Rance added that seniority in rank was "a consideration'' in selecting COs, other factors came into play.

He said: "No-one has been superceded in seniority so the supposed row within the Officers' Mess is without merit. Furthermore, seniority is not as important as ability for selection to command.