Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 2.djvu/647

]  Military Colleges.—The Staff College was established in 1858, with a view to train officers for employment on the staff of the army; replacing tho &quot;senior department&quot; of the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, which had existed since the beginning of the century. The pre sent building, near Sandhurst, was completed in 1862, and accommodates forty students. The qualifications and manner of admission of students have already been noticed (under &quot; Staff &quot;). The course lasts two years, beginning in February, and with vacations at Christmas and Midsummer. The subjects of instruction are military history and art, fortification, military administration and law, surveying and sketching, reconnaissance, mathematics (including a short course in mechanics and practical astronomy), sciences, and languages ; a large part of the course being devoted to out-of-door work and practical instruction in the duties of staff officers in the field. The Staff College is open to officers of all arms of the service, and twenty students are admitted each year. At the end of the first year they are required to pass a qualifying examination ; and at the end of the second, the final examination is held, at the close of which the names of the successful candidates are published in general orders, divided into two classes, &quot; Honours &quot; and &quot; Pass.&quot; Those officers who fail at the qualifying or at the final examina tion rejoin their regiments at once. The staff of the estab lishment consists of a commandant and ten professors, of whom four are military, the others civilians.

The Royal Military College, Sandhurst, was originated in 1786, and in 1801 was transferred from Marlow to its present site, and officially recognised by Parliament. This institution was formerly devoted to preparing young gentlemen for commissions in the infantry and cavalry, the ages of admission varying from thirteen to sixteen and eighteen at different periods. Now it is de voted to the instruction of young officers of these arms after they have passed the requisite examination for commissions, and before they are appointed to regiments. The course lasts a year, and the instruction is confined altogether to purely military subjects, fortification, military sketching, tactics, military law, correspondence, and accounts. At the conclusion of the course the students are required to pass an examination in these subjects, and their commissions are dated according to the result, those in the first class being antedated two years; those in the second, twelve months; and those in the third dating from day of examination. The present building accommodates about 150 students, and it will probably be necessary to increase it considerably. The staff of the establishment consists of a governor, with an assistant and five staff officers (paymaster, surgeon, &amp;lt;tc.), and twelve military professors and instructors. A riding f^tabli.shment and master are also kept up for the instruc tion of the students both of the Royal Military College and of the Staff College.

The Royal Military Academy at Woolwich was first established in 1741, and is devoted to the training of candidates for commissions in the artillery and engineers. The course of instruction, which lasts for three years, is mainly scientific and professional, mathematics playing an important part in it. The students are finally classed by the results of the examination held at the end of the course, those who pass the highest having the option of appointment to the engineers, and seniority in the army being determined by their position on the list. The present building accommodates about 250 students. The staff consists of a governor, with a secretary and adjutant, a &quot; captain of cadets &quot; and three &quot; lieutenants of cadets &quot; for purposes of discipline, and twenty-one professors and instructors.

Garrison Instructors.—For the instruction of officers serving with their regiments, and to enable them to qualify in the special examinations for promotion, staff officers, with the title of garrison instructors, are appointed to all the principal garrisons and military stations at home and abroad. Classes under these are formed for instruction in tactics, field fortification, military sketching and recon naissance, and law. The course of instruction usually lasts four months, daring which time the officer is strack off all other duties. A.t the close of the course an examination is held, and those who pass satisfactorily are certified as qualified for promotion. Garrison instructors hold the rank and receive the staff pay and allowances of brigade- majors, and are selected from officers who have passed through the Staff College. The establishment consists of one superintending officer (with rank and pay of assistant quartermaster-general) and seventeen garrison instructors, stationed at home or in the foreign garrisons on the British establishment, and one superintending officer and ten garrison instructors in India.

Army Schools are established in every regiment and detachment, for the purpose of giving to non-commissioned officers and soldiers, and to their children, a sound and useful education. These schools are divided into adult, grown children, infant, and industrial schools. To every regiment are appointed a schoolmaster and schoolmistress, and a certain number of assistant schoolmasters, pupil teachers, and monitresses, on a scale according to the number of men and children attending school. Batteries of artillery and detachments of other corps are allowed an acting schoolmaster, with such assistants as may be necessary. All soldiers, soldiers children, and children of men belonging to the army reserve, of warders of military prisons, and of discharged soldiers holding military employ ments, are admitted free of charge to these schools ; and children of pensioners and others indirectly connected with the army, on a weekly payment of 3d. Recruits, on first joining, are required to attend these schools ; and soldier* who are candidates for promotion must obtain certificates of proficiency before they are eligible. Advanced classes are also formed for the instruction of non-commissioned officers. Army schoolmasters receive a rate of pay varying, according to service, from 4s. a-day on appointment to a maximum of 7s. a-day, and rank as non-commissioned officers next below the sergeant-major. Candidates are required to go through a course in the training schools of the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea, admission to which is by competitive examination, open to non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the army (of good character and especially recommended), to civilian pupil teachers, and certificated schoolmasters. Before appointment the candi date must enlist for general service for twelve years. Schoolmistresses are classed in three classes, receiving from 30 to 44 yearly. Candidates must be certificated schoolmistresses, or have been employed as teachers in an army school, and in the latter case must pass an examina tion before appointment. All first appointments are made to the third class, and promotions are made according to merit and services. At all important military stations and garrisons large and commodious schoolhouses have been specially built ; at smaller stations barrack -rooms are told off and fitted up for the purpose. Schoolmasters and mistresses are per manently attached to regiments, and accompany them from station to station, and the schools arc under the immediato and constant supervision of the commanding officer. They are also periodically visited and examined by inspectors, who report to the director-general, for which purpose a staff of one inspector of army schools, two local inspectors (officers of the army, receiving an additional rate of pay 