Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-09-10
OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
From England Writes an
Interesting Letter About
the British Army, Etc.
ALpERsHoT, ENGLAND,
Aug. 8, 1909.
THE BRITISH ARMY.

D'ANIh'--f eTnapS Al
dershot is the greatest military
station in the world. 1t is situated
twenty-five miles inland from Lon
don and possesses many requisites
which make it particularly adaptable
to the military. Long Valley is an
ideal parade ground, embracing as
it does, so broad an expanse of
variegated territory, partly undulat-
ing and fringed with hills and jutting
peaks which form an excellent nucle-
olus upon which to maneuver troops
and practice the most effective
modes Of attack and defence that
could be adopted when combating
an enemy under unequal conditions.
Massive bodies of troops are receive
ing instructions daily on this famous
military reservation, and it is really
interesting to note the minuteness
and the exactness of detail by which
the British soldier is trained. So
thoroughly and complete is his
course of training, stage by stage,
from recruit to bonafde soldier,
that the work of transformation is
study in intself To administer a
course of training usually requires
from six to nine months, which of
course, depends much upon the
aptitude of the prospective soldier.
The contrast wrought after recruit
has completed his course of training
and gone through the veneerine
process is plainly depicted. He has
discarded the languId, slovenly, 90
as-you.please attitude and has ADOPT.
ed an agile military deportment-
keen of perception and quick of
understanding.
] believe the British soldier is the
best trained in the world. In ad.
dition to military training he is
given an opportunity to avail him
self of a practical education, which is
considered almost invaluable TO a
progressive and up-to-date soldier.
Attached to each garrison are
schools conducted by the military
and on the same precise and unvary-
ing basis as the military training,
where an education in all ordinary
branches and equal to that of the
public schools, may be acquired. So
it can be readily seen that while the
soldier is serving his country he can
equip himself for civil life, where
many lucrative and responsible
positions in governmental and
municipal departments are available
for energetic ex.soldiers. The term
of enlistment is seven years with the
colours and FIVE with the reserve.
While on the reserve pursuing civil
avocations the soldier receives a
very liberal remuneration per diem,
but of course is subject to the call
of his government when necessary.
| Taking the British army in its en-
tirety it is the best trained, best dis
ciplined and most enlightened in
the world. Unlike England a sol
dier entering civil life in the States
is given no preference by employers
and IN fact but little consideration;
so the American army is not so
popular because it does not offer the
same inducements as the British. It
is true that the American soldier is
the best paid in the world, but con-
sidering the inducements that the
British army offers and the prefer
ence given the soldiers on en- ntering
civil life, the English soldier is IN a
better position after serving his
country for one enlistment, than the
American soldier.
One Of the most interesting and
valuable branches of the service il
the Bridging Battalion and during
the recent war in South Africs