Evening star., 1902-02-22

sciences. mechanics, foTtifications army
tactics, mathematics. English, French and
drawing. Observation-Disclosures to physical
deyel0pment-are given in gymnastics. fenc-
inS swimming and also riding. The latter
y intended to provide for those contln-
goncies when an officer may be acting with
Il landing party. A wise provision 1nr
sailor men, rs Il rule. are never so much at
SEA when on horseback. At the option
of the cadets they may also take up ste
nography. Practical application supplants
the of diagrams and models wherever
possible, and, as far possible, the scope
OF each subject is kept within the bounds
of early service.
Admitted as an Officer.
The German theory of naval education
is that the young officer should be turned
out with sufficient knowledge to meet
present needs, and that to his natural
trend, experience and maturer studies
must be left his evolution a commanding
officer They deem it waste of time to
cram his head with the detail and theory
of those duties that will not be his for
many long years to come: and accentuate
his thorough mastery cf those that he
must soon assume At the end of his sec
Ond yeaT-the first at the academy-hav
ing passed the officers examination. the
young man. if not blackballed. is admitted
by ballot to the corps of naval officers.
and is then entitled to wear a sword.
The half-flcdged officer is now sent for
half year to the gunnery and torpedo
ships, "Bluchers,' Garcia and MARS.
and to the marine infantry for special
practical and theoretical courses in gun
merry, torpedo and infantry instruction.
Each special course is followed by an ex-
animation, which has a bearing on the
result of the examination for the rank of
lieutenant After completing these courses
the ensigns-for such they relatively are
are sent for two years further practical
training on board the battleships and
large cruisers of the war fleet. At the end
of the first year-that is. after three and
one-half years from the date of the ad
mission cadets-they become lieuten-
ants. In case Of war the youngster be-
comes available for duty on shipboard af
ter only two and half years. At the end
of three and a half years he has a pretty
ripe knowledge of young officers duties
on a warship. while with us our cadets are
four years in reaching what the Germans
do in two and one-half years, and. while
possessed OF a higher scholastic finish In
some directions. 1t is questionable If they
have the same substantial practical knowl-
! edge of their calling. The German idea is
| that marked ability depends more upon
| thorough grasp of detail. systematic or
ganiZatiOn and a strong VIII than upon
| mathematical and scholastic talent. AS a
| German naval officer. writing upon this
| subject. has said: What the officer must
| know of leading in action ne will acquire
| from his captain through the fighting for
nations and in the firing exercises 1t Is
| only in later years. when the officer serves
| in responsible posts. and his views have
| become enlightened by experience. that
| the study of tactics becomes justified and
| of value
Still More Schooling.
The first years duty on board the YES
sells of the war fleet is still. to a certain
extent a period of schooling. The captain
| and officers look upon it as duty to in
struct the ensign in the practical duties
about him and to influence him by pre-
| cept and by example. All this Is done In
spirit of good fellowship, so as to de-
velop character and to cultivate refine
ment and good form. Comradeship Is fos-
tered for the purpose of a closer cementa-
tion of the whole corps Of naval officers
During his scholastic work Of three years
the youngster is allowed total Of 4, 800
marks, or 81 OIL, which does not meet his
expenses, and his parents are obliged to
make up the difference Even after he
becomes an officer. at the end Of his first
two years. his parents or guardians must
bind themselves to make him annual
allowance of six hundred marks for the
four years following. 1t is this tax upon
the youngsters family that practically
narrows the field Of applicants to that of
the well-to-do. Contrast that with the
five hundred dollars allowed our cadets
annually and their sea pay, on their two
years cruise, amounting substantially to
a thousand. The ballot, which Is necessary
to admit youngster, after two years. to
the corps of officers has been found to be
a helpful preventative to the admission of
cadets personally undesirable. This has
never been used to foster an aristocratic
tendency, but it has prevented the adnlis-
sion of men who, sooner or later would
have proved social blemisheS to the serv-
ice.
The administration at Kiel Is divided into
the marine school and the marine academy.
The marine school Is that section given
ever to the Fanrichs zur See, up to the
END Of their second years work, when they
become naval officers The marine acad-
emy is the German counterpart Of our Ma
| val War College. somewhat extended. 1t is
for postgraduate courses. and especially
capable ieutenants, upon their own re-
quest, provided they are not over thirty
years old, may go there for the two terms
The first term Is for nine months and unc
second for six-each term beginning Octo-
| ber OF each of the years. The lectures Of
the course of the first year bear upon navi-
gation naval tactics. history Of naval tao
TICS ordnance, army tactics science OF for
| tiflcation. mathematics, analytical geome-
| try, harbor construction, natural sciences,
general geography, international law and
hygienics. The second term covers nautical
astronomy, naval tactics, history OF naval
warfare, torpedo science. naval construc.
ton, steam engineering. higher mathemat-
les. electrotechnics, hydrography and ma
tional economy. French English, Spanish
and Russian are taught both terms, and the
officers take part In war games.
Outdoor Sports.
At Kiel the young men are encouraged to
indulge in all reasonable athletic and out
of-door sports, and especially are they en-
couraged in all aquatic sports. This is one
NJ fho kai ra rdapohla hohhiaa e.