GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1899. 
371 
are thought about and discussed. What we want is a similar school 
for leading officers to think on technical subjects, keeping them posted 
up in all the latest developments and getting officers to understand 
that on themselves chiefly depends whether their armament is as effi¬ 
cient as it should be or not. If officers had only a higher scientific 
knowledge, the suggestions they would offer would soon be acted 
upon in the manufacturing departments, and we should have many 
simplifications and much improvement in our scientific instruments. 
The regimental officer whose daily work is connected with coast de¬ 
fence is best qualified to say where alterations or additions are necess¬ 
ary, if only he be sufficiently progressive; this is an age in which 
things scientific cannot stand fast for a moment, but still I consider 
that educated to the right standard he is in the position to make the 
best use of his knowledge, and being acquainted with the practical 
application of the question he is the less likely to fall into that error 
of making a machine, which though theoretically perfect, yet does not 
satisfy the practical requirements of the artilleryman. 
The course which is considered necessary for a Gunnery Lieutenant 
of the Royal Navy might now be compared with some of those 
which are open to Royal Artillery officers. The duties of a Gunnery 
Lieutenant approach somewhat to those of a Gunnery Instructor in 
the Royal Artillery, as far as one can liken work afloat to work on 
shore, and one would therefore expect both courses to be to some ex¬ 
tent similar, but one finds that the Naval course is from a scientific 
point of view far in advance of the corresponding course with us—it 
is in fact a combination of our “Long Course” and “Senior Class”.* 
In the Naval course in addition to the work in connection with drill 
and training some considerable time is spent over the study of mate¬ 
riel, and officers are expected to be thoroughly up-to-date in scientific 
developments as applied to armaments and to have some idea as to 
how we stand in this matter in comparison with other countries. At 
the same time the theoretical study of such subjects as mechanics 
electricity, chemistry etc. is not neglected, eight months being devoted 
to this portion of the course, sufficient to give officers a grounding in 
the elements of these sciences and to be a help to them in appreciating 
and understanding the numerous complicated pieces of machinery 
which form part of any modern armament. This grounding can then 
be developed, if necessary in after years. The period under instruc¬ 
tion in the Navy is about two years, while in our Long Course it is for 
one, out of which only three months are devoted to technical subjects 
and the study of materiel. The differences mentioned above in the 
educaton of those whose duty it is to instruct others in all the latest 
developments, whether of drill or of warlike stores, must cause a con¬ 
trast between the two services which regard to the importance in 
which “Materiel” and the sciences is held. 
That some importance is attached to this subject of technical in¬ 
struction is apparent in looking through the list of books printed at 
Government expense and circulated for the benefit of officers etc. 
* Also known as the “ Advanced Class.” 
