( 3 ( 3 ;) 
THE TECHNICAL TRAINING OE OFFICERS 
IN 
GARRISON ARTILLERY. 
BY 
MAJOR C. P. MARTEL, R.A. 
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.” 
DUNCAN” GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1899. 
A LTHOUGH the elementary study of certain sciences such as 
Electricity, Mechanism, Chemistry etc. has been recognized 
for many years as forming a necessary part of the education of a 
Garrison Artillery Officer, still the term “ technical education ” has 
hardly as yet been adopted in the service. In civil life the defini¬ 
tion, by Act of Parliament, of technical education commences 
thus :—“The expression ‘technical education’ shall mean instruc- 
“ tion in the principles of science and art applicable to industries, 
“ and in the application of special branches of science and art 
“ to specific industries and employments. It shall not include 
“ teaching the practice of any trade or industry or employment, 
“ but same as aforesaid shall include instruction in the. branches 
“of science and art with respect to which grants are for the 
“time being made by the Department of Science and Art, etc.” 
Although this definition may not be much help in determining in 
what direction or to what extent an officer must pursue his scientific 
investigations, one thing is certain, it draws a line of demarcation 
between technical education (such as might be of use to regimental 
officers) and ordinary work-shop training (which is necessary for 
Inspectors of Ordnance Machinery, or Armament Artificers). 
The work of the technical school should aim at and be limited to the 
teaching and illustration of principles and methods, if it goes beyond 
this and attempts the mechanical drilling of a student in the various 
processes, with a view not to attain insight into principles of work, 
but to gain mechanical skill and dexterity then it is trenching on the 
teaching of the practice of a trade. 
The subjects which are usually included in a service technical 
course, and the application of them to Artillery purposes may be put 
shortly as follows : — 
8. VOL XXVI . 
25 
