GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1899. 
369 
there is no immediately realisable value for what is taught in a tech¬ 
nical school, pervades nearly all the letters in scientific journals, rais¬ 
ing objections to the present system. 
The same general idea is common enough in the service, we all 
know that most men look upon what they learn for their various ex¬ 
aminations as of no practical use to them in future life. The object 
of combining scientific with practical work is discussed by Major E. S. 
May, R.H.A., in the commencement of his lecture on the “Study of Mili¬ 
tary History as a means of training for War ” published in the “ Pro¬ 
ceedings ” of the Artillery Institution for August, 1897; and although 
this article is on a purely military subject, yet the principle is true in 
all branches of life—certainly it holds good in the Garrison Artillery; 
no one could say that because an officer has educated himself in all 
the technical sciences which belong to his branch of the service, that 
therefore he will most likely be an indifferent regimental officer, only 
taking an interest in the scientific developments of the day, on the 
contrary, by reason of his education, his opinion should be of great 
value in all questions relating to the efficiency of scientific instruments 
or materiel generally. 
The idea of Technical Education for Artillery officers is no new 
one for there exists a pamphlet written in 1875 by a general officer 
entitled “ A plea for the better technical education of Artillery offi¬ 
cers ”, the general idea which this officer had in mind seems to have 
been somewhat as follows: —“ that officers should have Such a sound 
knowledge of scientific principles and have their mind so trained in 
technical details as to be able not only to keep up with the times in 
all questions affecting materiel, but also to express such opinions 
as would be a guide to manufacturers in calling their attention to the 
real requirements of the service, and to strongly press their views 
upon the government, so that there should be no excuse for any fall¬ 
ing behind hand in respect of design etc. in the materiel supplied for 
use with the Royal Artillery. 
If any extra training was required in former years to enable offi¬ 
cers to express such opinions, much more so will it be the case now 
when every day science is advancing and mechanical principles of all 
kinds are being introduced into designs for warlike stores, so much so 
that perpetual changes in the armaments must continue if we are to 
keep only on a level with our neighbours on the Continent. Just as 
Professor Tylden’s words, spoken many years ago, must be recog¬ 
nized as having much truth in them, namely, that England would lose 
her industrial supremacy by virtue of the better education provided 
by continental nations, so also his words “ that we would be outstripp¬ 
ed by these nations in the arts of war as well as of peace ” will come 
near the truth unless the education of Artillery Officers as a body 
is kept up to that standard which is necessary for them to appreciate 
all the advances of science in modern days. Are we falling behind in 
the materiel with which our field artillery is equipped, we have not 
been th© first to take advantage of the quick-firer for field service, in 
adopting it we will only be copying continental nations and it will be 
some time yet before our field artillery gets the advantage of this ad- 
