The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-01 00:00:00

MILITARY EDUCATION.

Sir DE LACY EVANS rose to move the following
resolutions:—

That in the opinion of this house a higher standard of
professional instruction and more complete provision for
it than hitherto deemed requisite ought to be established
for the commissioned ranks of the army, but especially for
the staff ; that this will be best promoted by recourse to
competitive examinations of officers desiring to qualify
themselves for the staff, by adopting the same principle
with such qualification as may be necessary in examination
of candidates nominated by the Commander-in• Chief for
commissions in the cavalry and infantry, by preserving the
present system of admission of cadets for the Ordnance
Corps, by assured encouragements for proficiency and
general fitness for advancement, and by appointment of
commissioners, or a council of military and civilian mem-
bers, empowered to direct the measures for accomplishing
these objects.
The gallant general discussed each of the proposi-
tions at some length, and said that though there
were some old fashioned objections still raised about
a standing army, he believed if we had not some sort
of a standing army the country would soon cease to
stand by itself, and would fall under the power of
some foreign State

743

Again, it had been said that we were a purely naval
nation, and not a military nation; but when he glanced at
the map of the world and saw how many places and what
vast territories the British army was called upon to defend
and guard he could not reconcile it with common sense to
hold that we were not a military nation. If they looked
back to the history of our army they would find some
of the greatest achievements ever performed had been per.
formed by our army. But, as it was small, it was sibs°.
lutely necessary to make it as efficient as possible ; and if
steps were taken to do justice to all officers by guarding
as much as possible against favouritism, and by making
arrangements to afford the highest amount of instruction
to all classes of the army, then he thought that our army,
small as it was, would be found adequate to its duties and
invincible by any other.

Sir F. SMITH admitted the great importance of
securing a better education among military officers.
He thought, however, that this education should be
given a practical tendency, rather than be limited to
intellectual and abstract knowledge.

General WYNDHAM feared that competitive ex-
amination furnished a very inadequate test of mili-
tary efficiency :

He thought there was a great deal more fuss about edu-
cation in the army than was necessary. He had observed
in the field that some of those who were possessed of great
attainments turned out to be the worst officers. He firmly
believed that the officers of the English army were quite as
well educated as those of the French army, and that in the
part of the service in which we were said to be most
deficient—the staff—the deficiency was more owing to
want of practice than to the want of education.
General Wyndham suggested various improvements
in our military organisation, such as the placing the
chief of the staff and the quartermaster•general
upon a distinct and separate footing. He wished
also to see some general system of military
organisation :
This was not the time to discuss such a question, but he
could not help saying that what we wanted was not such a
general military organisation as fitted the Continent, but
such a rational system as became a free country. What
we wanted was regular militia, and reserves volunteering
from that militia, which would form a constant source of
supply of men for the army. Connected with this was the
question of national defence and other considerations of
great importance. if we were to go on as we had hitherto
done we must always be too late—for this reason, that the
Government on an emergency had to come down to the
house to ask for money to get men, when the men ought
to be ready to their hands. They never asked for money
until they were in pressing need of the men.

Sir W. Wim.rems, although he advocated the
competitive system, yet hoped the military authori-
ties would continue to retain the right of nomination.
He wished, too, to see a real bona-fide staff corps
established, upon the French system. The questions
of promotion by purchase and military education.
were very intimately connected :

Without purchase, there would be favouritism and affec-
tion. He had seen more regiments of the line than most
officers, and he had always remarked in what an extraor-
dinary manner the system of purchase kept up the youth-
fulness of these regiments. In the scientific corps, where
there was no purchase, the case was different. At forty
years of age, he himself was only a second captain. No
doubt, under the purchase system, there was a certain
amount of vexation experienced when one man purchased
over another; but that was nothing to the heartburning
which was occasioned when an officer was put over another
on account of some pretended superior►ty of talent or
intellectual attainments.

Mr. PALK wished, he said, that instead of adopting
such a resolution as that proposed some principle
could be adopted that would enable men who chose
the profession of arms, and were without interest, to
reap the rewards now obtained by patronage alone.
Sir J. R tMSDEN said the Government were en-
gaged in preparing a comprehensive scheme of
military education, which they confidently hoped
would deserve the approbation of the house. The
main features of this scheme were that the exami-
nation to which all officers nominated by the Com-
mander-in-Chief for direct appointments were sub-
jected would be more severe; that the examinations
would be quarterly, in London, under the direction
of the Council of Education, and that they would be
conuucted by military and civil examiners. A plan
was also under consideration for the amalgamation
of Sandhurst and Woolwich. He added some of the
details of the scheme so far as the Government had
decided upon them, in which the competitive prin-
ciple would be adopted. Although the plan of the
Government did not entirely agree with the resolu-
tion moved by Sir De Lacy Evans, he hoped, as the
difference was only in minor points, and the Govern-
ment were acting in the spirit desired by Sir De
Lacy, that he would not press the revolution.
Lord STANLEY agreed that, as regarded the army
at large, it was sufficient to establish a test strict
enough to keep out men unfit for the military class,
and that a certain number of appointments should
be competed for. But he thought it most desirable
that young men should not be induced to consider
their professional instruction finished when they had
entered the army, and that there should be examina-
tions at a later period. He rejoiced to hear that the
new scheme of the Government admitted the
•

iA • oq

744

petitive test, which be believed, if fairly applied, was
in a much greater degree moral than intellectual.
Mr. S. HERBERT, after reiterating, his previous
opinions regarding the competitive test, complained
of the unfair judgments passed upon general officers
commanding in the field. lie repeated his objection
tosthe establishment cf a separate staff•corps, and
suggested that the examination for staff appoint-
ments should be conducted by a permanent body of
examiners, and should certainly include the aides-de-
camp.
Lord PALMERSTON said there were three requisites
to make a good officer—first, general intelligence and
an ordinary education ; second, a proficiency in pro-
fessional knowledge ; and third, those constitutional
qualifications which, beyond all others, were impor-
tant in an officer. The first examination of a young
man entering the army ought to be a test of his
education and intellectual qualities. When he got
his commission and entered the army his corn •
mending officer would judge of his qualities, and
then would come the competitive examination for
the staff, and arrangements would be made that the
standard should not fall below the proper point.
The resolution before the house went to make an
affirmation of points still under consideration ; and
although, generally speaking, he agreed with the
principles upon which the resolution was founded,
he submitted to Sir De Lacy Evans whether he
would either leave the matter in the hands of the
Government, or modify the resolution so as to affirm
the general principles without tying down the Govern-
ment to particular details, which might be incon•
venient.

Sir DE LACY EVANS modified the resolution
accordingly, and in its amended shape it was
agreed to.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to
Mr. Buchanan, said that the Select Committee on
the Bank Acts had agreed to report the evidence.
GALWAY ELECTION.
Colonel FRENCH moved that a new writ do issue
for the borough of Galway.
Mr. G. CLIVE, the chairman of the committee
whose decision had unseated Mr. O'Flaberty, by
the direction of the committee moved by way of
amendment—
That this house do pray her Majesty to cause an inquiry
to be made into the existence of corrupt practices during
the last as well as former elections for the county of the
town of Galway.
Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD supported the amendment,
referring to the report of the committee, which
stated that systematic bribery hail prevailed at the
last and previous elections at Galway.
The motion was negatived and the amendment
agreed to.

MAYO ELECTION.

Colonel FRENCH then moved for a new writ for the
county of Mayo.
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD called attention to the fifth re-
solution of the select committee on the Mayo
county election, and moved, as an amendment, that
the Attorney-General for Ireland be directed theteon
to prosecute the Rev. P. Conway and the Rev. L.
Ryan. In support of this amendment he read passages
from the evidence taken by the committee touching
the language and conduct of the two rev. gentlemen in
relation to the election.

A division ensued, whereby the original motion
was negatived by 153 to 29.
Mr. Seholefteld's amendment was then put as a
substantive motion, whereupon
Mr. BRADY moved that the house do adjourn ;
but, upon a division, this motion was negatived by
149 to 16.

Tne motion was then agreed to.
Mr. Scnoi.EFIELD moved that the writ for the
county of Mayo be suspended during the present
session, and this motion was carried upon a division
by 128 to 21.
The house adjourned at a quarter to three o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-WEDNESDAY.

The house having resolved itself into a committee
on the Smoke Nuisance (Scotland) Abatement Bill,
the clauses were agreed to, after discussion, with
certain amendments.