THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
105 
THE ESTABLISHMENT 
AKD 
ORGANISATION OF IN ARSENAL. 
BY 
LIEUT. E. H. H. COLLEN, R.A. 
SIAEE COLLEGE, SAEDHUEST. 
THE R.A. INSTITUTION PRIZE ESSAY OF 1872. 
“ Fortes pejoraque passi.” 
In the bright light which the spirit of our times throws upon all 
matters touching the profession of arms, we may expect to see those 
paths of military administration which are clear to the few and obscure 
to the many lit up and thrust into bold relief. 
Up to a date not very remote, but little attention was paid in this 
country to a study of the principles of organisation, and the methods 
of supply, the best adapted to the British army. Just as at one time 
the highest idea of tactics was “ to go straight on and beat the enemy,” 
so in administration the methods of supply were, good or bad, very 
much dependent upon the degree of ability possessed by the fighting 
leader. 
This epoch of our military history is now passing away ; the system 
of administration must gradually settle, and assume some permanent 
form adapted to our national characteristics and the varied require¬ 
ments of our service. The time has passed when we could assert that 
pluck and money would pull us through every kind of danger and 
emergency. Modern warfare admits of no delay, allows no time to a 
nation prostrated by a heavy blow to recover its strength. Every 
combination of danger must be provided against, every phase of battle 
practised, every difficulty of supply prepared for. The day has gone 
when we could point proudly to a great commander to combat every 
foe by turn, to remedy every evil of administration. “ The Duke of 
Wellington was a system in himself \ and when he left us, he left us 
without a system.” It is, then, the task of the soldiers of the present 
day, each in his own sphere, to try and work out the many questions 
which must be solved, and to assist in the building up of our system of 
military administration upon a sure foundation. 
11 
