The Russellville Democrat., 1883-02-22

II is only exceptionally and as re-
ward for distinguished bracery in ac-
ton that German non-commissioned Of
ficers are promoted officers. Appoint
ments 5f this kind are so rare that may
be laid down rs rule that non com
mssioned officer cannot hope to receive
position. and is looked up to by the mass
OF the people. Such is not the case,
however, with the Porte Epee- Fahnrich.
This category of commissioned Of
ficers is entirely distinct from the 9TH
ers. The Porte-Epee-F ahnrich are. in
fact, all aspirant officers, and the rank
that they hold is the first step that all
must take who desire to enter the corps
of officers o. the German army. This
grade is conferred, in proportion to the
number of vacancies, on young men
who have been six months in active
service, who can produce a certificate of
excellence in studies from certain speci-
fed seats of public instruction, or who
have passed successfully a prescribed
examination before military commits
sion sitting at Berlin. In order to be
adm tied TO this examination an appli-
cant must be either Cadet or must
have enlisted as an dcantdgear; that
is, an aspirant to the position
of an officer, and as a claimant,
by this title, to the enjoyment of
certai.. privileges attaching to this par
ticular condition. These privileges vary
according to the corps; a certain lati-
tude is allowed to the Colonies in the
treatment of the dCantaqettrs, who are
in principle only enlisted men. In
Germany the term Cadet is applied to
a student at the military schools that
have been established To insure the ELL
ing of vacancies among the officers OF
the army. These schools are nine in
number, of which seven are in Prussia,
one at Dresden, for the Saxon army,
and one at Munich for the Bavarian
army. OF the seven Prussian schools,
six are only primary; they do not finish
the education of their scholars, who, at
fifteen years OF age, are all sent to the
principal school established at LIGHTER
field. The Cadet schools all receive the
pupils at ten years of age and upward;
the latter can enter only after an ex-
animation whose scope varies with the
age of the applicant. Although these
schools have a military organization,
the time spent there is not counted as
effective service: consequently, at the
expiration of the required number
of years of study, the cadets are
distributed among the regiments OF
the different arms of the service,
where they commence by serving six
months as enlisted men under the
same conditions as the acd,atagcurs.
Once that they have been appointed
Porte Epee Fahnrich. the aspirant Off
GERS, whether Cadets or arantdgeurS,
must pass through one of the war
schools (Kriegsschulen) of the German
Empire in order to be promoted Off
GERS 1t is only after five months serv-
ice at least with the rank of ensign
porte-epee, and, consequently, after
eleven months of active service, that
they can be sent to the war schools.
There are nine of these schools; the
course of studies is from nine to ten
months. On leaving, the students &c
| to Berlin to undergo before the Military
| Commission sitting in that city new
examination that decides their fitness
for the grade of Second Lieutenant.
But before promotion they must stand
another test; they must be accepted by
the corps of officers they desire to join.
In each regiment the officers assembled,
with the Colonel presiding, decide upon
the suitableness of the candidate as re
CARDS character, honor, social standing,
etc Finally, for the special branches,
artillery or engineers. officers must
pass through the school of application
at Berlin, where the duration of the
course is two years. The United SerUict