Sierra County advocate., 1904-10-28

The United States staff college is
now an established part Of our mill
tary educational system, and in the
opinion OF the army 1t is one of the
greatest OF oil the great Improvements
effected by the present secretary of
war, says Washington report.
In this connection 10 is interesting
to note that Japan, in spite of the fact
that she entered the international
arena in competition with the worlds
great nations only within decade or
two, has possessed staff college
since 1882.
1t was modelled originally after the
prussian staff college, and has had
some prominent German officers on
duty as instruc~rs. Three years after
its organization the great German au-
thority on tactics, Maj NOW Maj.
GEM Nickel came in that capac-
ty and remained for -four years, dur
ing which time he placed the institu-
tion on firm foundation and intro
dpced Kriegsspiel and general staff
rides Of instruction, besides reorgan-
izing the entire japanese army. He
was followed by the two German Off
GERS who afterward rose to the rank
Of major general.
Its directors have also been prom
inent men in the japanese army;
among them, the present minister OF
war and governor general Of Formosa.
the late Chief OF the General Staff
Kawakami, the present commanders
OF the Eighth and Ninth divisions, and
the present assistant chief OF the gen.
eral stan.
The course Is three years and orig
inally only Is lieutenants were admit
ted in class, but this number has
been gradually increased, until to-day
so are admitted annually.
One OF the important features 10 the
return Of sta II officers and students to-
line duty The course each year begins
on December and ends early in June,
but from August till the end Of 0cto-
Der the students are sent TO the va
rious arms Of the service to learn the
duties OF branches other than their
own and to take part In the fall ma
neuvers, besides doing duty at forti-
fications and artillery target practice
and on battleShips. At the end of the
three years course all the students
take part in the general staff rides OF
instruction, and are then ordered back
to their own arm of the service.
The graduates receive medal worn,
like an order, on the uniform, and the
- ~ fal hu tba
emperor with q sword of honor.
Even the military instructors are or
dered to serve for time with the va
rious arms OF the service.
After years service with troops
the best of the graduates are ordered
10 duty in the general staff, and after
one or two years are permanently as
signed TO the general STAFF corps.
The subjects OF study are taetios tiiA-
cluding naval tactics), military his
tory, general etaff duty Organization.
maneuvers, mobilization. supply Of
armies. transportation of troops, etc.),
military geography, artillery and
small arms, foriiications, attack and
defense of fortitlcations, administra-
tion, military hygiene, law, riding,
languages, general history. general
geography, mathematics and topog-
rrnhy and sketching
The general staif rides cover 40 or
so miles
The interest taken in this school is
evidenced by the fact that. although
only officers of al least two years serv-
ice with their regiments are eligible,
and then only npon the recommends
tian OF their immediate superiors. al
least Tee come up annually for TIE en-
france examinations, although only Is
can enter.