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H— 19a

course is sixty-five days in the Infantry and Engineers, ninety days in the Cavalry, seventy-five days in the Artillery. A high standard of individual efficiency in drill, handling of arms, musketry, and fieldwork is exacted at these courses. Swiss Instructional Staff. 71. The corps of instructors hold numerous classes for officers and non-commissioned officers throughout the year. Every Militiaman during colour service (twelve years) and Reserve service (eight years) must fire annually, under strict conditions, an average of thirty-six rounds in a Rifle Club. Further, in each year that he does not train he must attend an inspection of arms and equipment. With these exceptions, " home training ' is unknown in the Swiss Army. Unit Training. 72. During his colour service the Infantryman has to perform seven trainings, the Cavalryman eight, each training lasting thirteen days, including the days of joining and dismissal. During; these trainings all unit training is performed. Each year two divisions operate one against the other over extensive tracts of country, under strictest service conditions. The training of the other four divisions is on a more modest scale, being confined mostly to training under the Brigade Commanders. Swiss View of Unit Training. 73. During the training period a portion of the corps of instructors is embodied in the Army, in the capacity of Commanders and Staff Officers. On principle, however, only so many are thus employed as could safely be spared from instructional duties in the event of mobilization. In fact (so far as appointments are concerned) annual training resembles, as nearly as possible, an actual mobilization. This is the period when the fitness of all ranks is tested practically, and there is no idea of bolstering up an incapable Commander by an expert who would not be at his elbow in war. Although many of the higher Commanders and Staff Officers are drawn from the Corps of Instructors, the total number so employed is strictly limited, the Swiss holding firmly to the view that too much prompting by a professional ruins the initiative and prestige of their Militia officers. For these are the type of Territorials who not only defeated Charles the Bold and his knights as well as the flower of the Austrian chivalry, the Regulars of those days, but they are equally the modern representatives of the Forces which conquered at Marathon, — Won by the unambitious heart and hand Of a proud, brotherly and civic band. Every single word of these great lines of Byron's (excepting only the articles, conjunctions, and prepositions) is weighted with profound meaning. Summary of Swiss Practice. 74. Such is the system in an army which still exemplifies the highest existing type of a purely Citizen Force, although there is no reason in the world why Australasia, being richer and bigger, possessing a purebred and thoroughly warlike type of men, speaking one language, animated by one sentiment, should not in the course of the next four or five years wrest from them the lead of which they are so justly proud. Let me now give a summary of the system : — (1.) The training of the recruit up to a given standard, as well as the instinct ion of the individual officer and non-commissioned officer, effected by specialists, apart from their units. (2.) The training of the embodied units, and of the higher formations, carried mil annually under the men who would actually command and lead them in war. (3.) For two years out of three, training progressive from the smaller units up to the brigade, and evep higher. It will be seen that the principles indicated in paragraph 68 are thus adhered to in their entirety, responsibility throughout being accurately defined.' The Australasian Experiment. 75. In New Zealand, as in Australia, the most interesting experiment is being made of substituting a four-years term of Cadet training for the two or three months of consecutive recruit training obtaining in Switzerland, and, indeed, in some form or another, in every other army. The experiment is fascinating in its interest, for on its success or failure depends the answer to be given to the question whether a fighting standard of efficiency can be obtained without ever withdrawing the adult citizen soldier from his civil employment for more than a very few days in the year. So far, no definite conclusion can be arrived at —the new model has not been long enough on its legs. All I can say is that, generally, the omens are propitious. Efficiency of Town Cadets. 76. During the past month I have inspected whole companies of Senior Cadets whom I would pass on the spot to take their place in the ranks of a smart Infantry battalion, provided always that their standard of musketry came up to their steadiness in the ranks, their handling of arms, their drill, and their marching. But it is significant that such companies, almost without an exception, have come Erojp populous centres, or from boarding-schools, where home training is easily effected throughout

3—H. 19a.