626 
ARMY SCHOOLS. 
pulsory attendance and revive regimental schools involves an increased 
charge on the Army Estimates, but we are already far behind both our 
French and German neighbours in the matter of military education, 
and unless we wish to get hopelessly in arrear we must be prepared to 
take energetic steps, cost what they may, to restore the balance. 
Standing on the flank of a battery in action it is impossible not to 
notice the strong influence which education has on drill and training. 
It makes itself felt in the prompt and intelligent performance of the 
duties of each individual. In the old days of mechanical drill this was 
not so apparent, but under modern conditions when success depends on 
the ready appreciation of all ranks to carry out their superior^ orders, 
when each individual has to think 1 as well as to obey, or rather has to 
think in order to obey, it cannot be doubted that there is an enormous 
initial advantage to a Commanding Officer who can work on minds 
previously prepared by a sound elementary education, in place of raw 
and neglected material. It is this thought which has prompted the 
writer to pen these few remarks, after reading Sir Robert Biddulpffis 
Report, which is so full of practical interest and deserves exhaustive 
study. 
1 “ The conditions of modern warfare render it imperative that all ranks shall he taught to think 
and, subject to their general instruction and accepted principles, to act for themselves.”—Infantry 
Drill-book, 1892. This general principle applies with equal force in the case of Artillery. 
