liv BIOGRAPUICAL SKETCH. 



the army, facilities for acquiring the elements of technical instruction in subjects connected with 

 their profession ? — I certainly think so. 



6339. Do you attach such importance to the acquisition of that instruction as to consider 

 it to be desirable to render it in some degree compulsory \ — I should render the knowledge of 

 tlie subjects compulsory. 



0340. That is to say, that you would be inclined to require every officer on rising from one 

 grade to another to pass an examination in those subjects 1 — Yes ; up to a certain rank. 



63il. Up to what rank 1 — Up to the rank of captain. 



6342. Would you have two examinations 1 — Yes, for the ranks, a lieutenant and captain. 



6343. To what subjects would you be inclined to confine that obligation 1 — I should 

 confine it to all subjects which related to the particular profession to which the officer belonged ; 

 that is to say, an infantry officer would have to know difibrent subjects from a cavaliy officer. 

 I think that an infantry officer should be better acquainted with field fortification than a cavalry 

 officer ; and, on the other hand, a cavalry officer should know more about horses and so on than 

 an infantry officer. I should confine it to the profession to which the officer belonged. 



6344. There are now, I believe, examinations, but they are connected with the drill and 

 the interior economy 1 — I believe so. 



634-5. You would extend those examinations to such subjects as field fortification, field 

 sketching, &c. ? — I am not certain as to field sketching ; that should be taught before the officer 

 enters the army ; but I think that they should include field fortification. In the first place, 

 I thmk that field fortification in its widest sense should form one subject, that every thing in the 

 nature of outpost duties, and every thing in fact connected with a campaign, another. A know- 

 ledge of permanent fortification sufficient to enable an officer to understand what is going on 

 at a siege, in trenches, and so on ; and a certain acquaintance with siege ordnance and artillery, 

 so as to enable him to work guns on occasions ; a knowledge of tactics should likewise be 

 required. 



6346. (Lord de Eos.) The working of guns is taught now, is it not 1 — 1 believe so, but I 

 cannot say for certain what is taught at the present moment. I would include the elements of 

 strategy and militaiy law, and of course the practice of courts-martial. 



6347. {Chairman.) What machinery would you suggest for administering that instruction^ 

 — I think that the greater part of it might be obtained in the battalion to which the officer 

 belonged. 



6348. Would you appoint a military instructor to each battalion \ — No ; that would hardly 

 be necessary. An officer could acquire by study every thing which is necessary connected with 

 his purely military duties, and he could so acquire it in the battalion. 



