623 
ARMY SCHOOLS. 
BY 
MAJOR A. M. MURRAY, R.A. 
The recently published Report 1 of the Director General of Military 
Education on Army Schools has doubtless received attention from 
every officer in the army. For us it has a special interest, not only 
from the fact that the author—Sir Robert Biddulph—is an officer of 
high rank in the Regiment, but because a better standard of education 
among the non-commissioned officers and men is every year becoming 
more and more a matter of imperative necessity. In order to keep pace 
with the fast developing improvements in materiel , and rapid changes 
in tactics, a good general education is essential as a foundation upon 
which to build subsequent technical training. This being so, the writer 
hopes the Committee of the Royal Artillery Institution will permit him to 
draw attention to one or two points in the Report while it is still fresh 
in the memory of all, and before its lessons pass out of mind. 
The most striking fact brought to notice is the general falling off in 
the educational standard of the. army during the past five years. 
Although this period has been one of increased activity in the Depart¬ 
ment of Military Education, and although many circulars have been 
addressed to Commanding Officers, emphasizing the importance of 
education, the results have none the less led to disappointment. On 
the 31st of December, 1888, the percentage of non-commissioned 
officers and men holding certificates (exclusive of 4th class) was 38*89 
of the total strength of the army. On the 31st December, 1892, it had 
fallen to 36*51. It is true that in our own Regiment the percentage 
has risen from 39*72 to 41*84, 2 but ourselves and the Army Service 
Corps are the only branches of the army who have contributed to raise 
instead of lower the general average. In the Cavalry there has been 
a decline from 46*93 to 38*29, in the Foot Guards from 46*16 to 40*19, 
in the Royal Engineers from 65*12 to 62*76, in the Infantry of the 
1 Fifth Report on Army Schools, by the Director General of Military Education, 1893, Presen¬ 
ted to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty. 
2 Chiefly due to the increase of 1st Class Certificates, owing to the possession of this certificate 
being required as a qualification for warrant rank. 
12. VOL. XX, 
