252 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
To ATTAIN THE FlRST OBJECT. 
Favourable reports and probable promotion* may be promised to those 
who make best progress in the course, while others may be induced 
to come up to a certain standard by the prospect of exemption from 
elementary drills and lectures on a future occasion. In the infantry, 
men try hard to qualify as lst-class shots in order to escape position 
drills, &c.; and in the army at large, private soldiers will work for and 
pass 3rd-class army examinations, so as to be free from more schooling. 
If the instructor relates frequent incidents and anecdotes bearing on 
his subject in teaching, the men’s attention will not only be gained, but 
they will be furnished with a memoria technica for remembering facts. 
Whenever an easy reason can be given it will always be found to excite 
attention and aid the memory. Simple experiments, diagrams, and 
models are all useful, as they enable men to learn by means of their eyes 
as well as their ears. 
Each subject of a lecture should have some connection with the pre¬ 
ceding one, as it will then be more easily followed and remembered by 
the men than one consisting of disjointed sentences. For instance, after 
speaking of shot, the subject of shell comes better than gun-pits, as the 
sequence of ideas is more apparent. As he should have as little recourse 
to notes as possible in lecturing, the instructor himself finds the advantage 
of delivering a lecture which he can easily carry in his head. 
Lectures should be short and frequent, rather than long and few; 
they should also be as little formal as possible. A few explanatory 
words in the midst of drill may often teach more than an elaborate des¬ 
cription in the model-room. 
Preliminary questions should be put to the men, and some who have 
had special acquaintance with the subject to be discussed should be 
drawn out to give information; as this will cause all to take an active 
instead of a merely passive interest in the matter. 
Questions should be encouraged from the men, so that explanations 
may be given on points not understood. A plan is adopted in a Berlin 
working men’s club, after a lecture on a scientific subject, of putting 
written questions on it into a box, which is then taken to the lecturer, 
who reads the questions and answers them before his audience. 
The necessity of gaining the interest and attention of men under in¬ 
struction is only briefly alluded to in our drill-books, but the Prussians 
seem to consider it a point of the greatest importance, as will be seen 
from the following extract from their “ Cavalry Field Duty”:—f 
“ Theoretical should precede practical instruction, and no pains should 
be spared by the instructors to make their men like and take an interest 
in what they are taught. 
“ Those, however, who wish to learn are especially recommended to 
think out in their minds all they have heard. They should ponder over it, 
& Before rising each step in rank, a N.C* officer should be required to pass an examination in 
drill and gunnery; 
f Translation by Captain Russell, 14th Hussars * 
