The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-02
RRITIsR OFFIcErs DUTIES.
Many fhinSs He Should Know bat Fails
In UanAIlY On war Time.
From the London Da,ln GrapAic.

From the LOndoR Daily GrapAle.
In view OF the recent report Of the south
African War Stores Commission, with lts
severe structures on the mental. professional
and business capacity Of the British 0fioer.
II may he OF general Interest to review briefly
a few Of the miscellaneous accomplishments
In which the average suoaltern 10 expected
to excel.
Apart from the study entAlled by the par
tlcular branch Of the service to which the
subaltern belongs there are numerous courses
Of instruction about which the long suffer-
Ing taxpayer knows little or nothing. Many
OF these courses are compulsory. and together
with the voluntary ones they occupy the
greater portion Of the Initial stages Of q
subaltern's career.
After q few months service he proceeds to
Hythe. where he learns the theory and prac-
tioe Of musketry. the history Of firearms
and the mechanism Of the rifles and machine
guns OF all nations. Later, at A~IdershOt.
he IL taught signalling with nag. lamp.
~heliograph and s~emaphore. and aftar ward.
al the veterinary school. he learns the stTuot-
ure and diseases OF the horse. the care Of the
animal In health and its treatment when
siok, how 70 forge lis shoes and nail them on.
how to ft saddlery and haFDess, and the con-
structiOn of STABLES and management OF
animals both on laud and ahlpboard.
He thep qualities as q transport onicer.
receiving instruction In the details Of manu-
fscture and care Of all army vehicles from
the water cart to the gun carriage. A knowl-
edge Of motor cars and traction engines has
recently been added to the curriculum. AZ
terward he Ia taught how to Judi 90 the quality
Of forage. and he often has to compete with
the farmer and professional buyer In the
purchase OF hay and straw By the rick from
the meadow. or oats by the shipload from
Mark Lane. ~
In order that the soldiers food shall be the
best obtainabls tat q prioe), the offcer has
TO be instructed in the quality OF -four and
meat dead and aliveD. and he also has to be
conversant with The. arts Of hreadmsking
and butchery. Likewise the signs Of age.
health or disease in cattle and sheep and the
quality Of groceries, as well as beer, wines,
spirits and milk. must be learned II he wishes to
gain a supply certlncate. AZ Cnatham ne
write reports and observe the stars. There
country from the giddy heights Of a balloon,
or to approach his fortresses by means OF
underground tunnels: and he may. II he be so
as a boxer. a fencer. a gymnast or an ex:
pouent Of jiu-jitsu; ~And-having achieved
S am faese By S S4adSsti1S a = chef Ssn at G he Alder
shot school Of cookery,
Advantage is taken OF bis linguistic abilities
Japanese. and he Is likewise encouraged to
qualify as an Interpreter in as many Ian euaRe
as he has a fancy for. from Chinese TO German
and from Hindustani to Cape Dutch.
Every British oflcer Is now supposed 70
know how TO render first aid to the wounded"
and how TO bandage, eplint and prescribe for
minor ailments. and he is even expected to
be a master Of phonetics and an essayist on
subjects varying from the report Of a cricket
match to the strategy Of MOltke or the tactics
Of Napoleon.
II he has any pride in the appearance Of
his, men he must possess the attributes OF
tailor, bootmAker and leather seller In order
garments and the duality of their boots,
saddlery and accoutrements, and to look
further after their comfort he must be able to
pit himself against the retail dealer, so as to
watch over the soldiers interests In their
canteens and grocery bars.
On conference.-the he plays the part both Of
judge and jury. and when appearing as prose-
cptor has often TO meet the astute lawyer on
his own ground.
As ~ianitor he superintends the various
military wilson's and detention barracks In
England and the Colonies. and a. parson he
conducts divine service, and in isolated
garrisons even buries the dead.
SO much. then, for the actual needs Of his
come a social as well az q regimeHtsl success
polo. player: neither must he deepise golf.
can add TO these the requirements Of an
orator an actor and a gentleman Jockey
so much the better. and no can then retire TO
his bed feeling fully satisfied that he has
indeed earned his five shillings and three
pence q day.