The National tribune., 1896-08-20
SOLDIERS AND ILLITERAcY.
Some Interesting Statistics of the Educa-
tional Development of Fighting Men.
IEeac York Sun

Military men. and especially military men of
q higher rank than common soldiers and SUBJ
alierns do not agree very much better on dis
puted points than doctors or lawyers. One
poiut of serious difference between soldiers
arises over the question whether, a rule, we'll
educated soldiers make better fighters than
those who are either illiterate or have only the
rndiments of education. Recently some OFF,
cial figures have been Published by the War
Department in st. Petersburg showing that
more than as per cent. of the Russian conscripts
are illiterate. Out of 100000 men drafted into
the army each year 100000 are unable to read
or write On entering the army they are taught
to do both Hence the Russian War Minister
claims for,the conscriptive system the credit of
being an adjunct 10 documentary public instruc-
tion.
Russia has always ranked lowest among the
countries of Europe in respect TO the education
of its soldiers and in the same category with
Russia though little above it, are the Dan
ubian States Servia and Roumana. Above
Russia but below the other European countries
in which educational advantages are most gen.
orally diffused, are Italy, Hungary, Portugal,
Spain aud Greece, forming. so TO speak, an in-
termediate group. OF the Italian conscripts
who were called to participate in the war of
1866, before the Venetian provinces secured
their independence or before the publication of
Italy was established, only SO per cent. were
lower at that time among the soldiers than
among the general population OF Italy, for 40
per cent. of the men who married were able at
that time TO sign the marriage register.
In 1871, the year following the establishment
Of Rome as the political capital of Italy, the
number of conscripts able to read had risen to
az per cent. In 1851 it was so per cent, in
1887 il was So per cent. and in 1895 90 per
cent, the present average. In Hungary the
ratio of conscripts able to read and write is the
same as in Italy. 60 per cent but it varies very
much throughout the Austrian empire, being
| 20 per cent in Poland, 55 per cent. in Tyrol. IS
per cent. in Bohemia aud so per cent. in Aus
| tris proper. In Spain it is so per cent; in
| Greece ii rs 55.
| Above these figures of percentage come those
| European countries where, as in the United
States there is an educational test for admission
| to the army. In Norway, Sweden and Den.
| mark all soldiers full 100 per cent.-mus'
be able to read and write. In Germany the
! percentage is nearly as high, 80 per cent. In
| Switzerland il is IS, and in Holland, France
England, and Scotland it is 60 In Belgium II
is IS.
Some military authorities declare that sol
diers familiar with reading and writing ant
| inspired by the ambition which comes from
EDUCATION make alert and ambitious soldiers
and can he depended upon for taking the initia
tive where illiterate soldiers would not know
1
some of the military authorities say. but their
are others, claiming TO speak with simiia
authority. who say that The observations O
Generals in modern warfare prove the contrar.
of this proposition.
The first duty of q soldier, ii is we'll estab
lished proposition, is TO comply with the regu
iations and conform TO the discipline of tn
service--in other words, TO obey orders. Lit
erary accomplishments or even a rudimenta
i knowledge OF the requirements Of education
;, not help soldier in firing gun or aiming q
al enemy performing sentry duty or maxim
8 q long march, For officers, perhaps. thes
!, martial authorities claim, reading. writing, an
arithmetic may be very good thing, but 70
. actual service Oh the battlefield in trenche
: physical strength and willingness to obey i'm
, | pIiciily the orders of commanders are niue
more important than general knowledge.
1t is certainly fact that Scandinavian So
diers with whom the standard of education
: now highest, have not, in modern times, show
any superior efficiency. In fact, they have keF
out OF war as much as possible, except durin
the Danish Prussian war of 1864. In which Gel
tainly the Danes did not conspicuously distir
Q guish themselves as formidable adversaries
# the better trained, if not better educated, &c
Il mans.