of some highly important strategical task, for the performance of which the two are acting in combination.

The question is, How we are to set about the training of the individual so as to obtain such results. Different men will advocate different methods, and it is highly improbable that any single opinion could obtain general approval. Instead, therefore, of stating what I think ought to be done, I propose now to give a sketch of what I myself actually did during the two years that I was engaged in training recruits at the depôt of my own regiment, at Taunton, from the end of 1895 to the end of 1897. The foundation of my system was that from the earliest possible opportunity every recruit should be compelled to accept a certain amount of responsibility, not only on account of himself, but also on behalf of others. My chief boast in this connection is that except by means of 'lectures' I taught nobody anything whatever after my first three months at the depôt. In short, after having laid what I deemed to be a sufficient foundation of knowledge, I confined myself to seeing that those who knew their business taught those who did not. Suppose, for example, that recruit Thomas Atkins appeared on parade for the very first time in his life this morning, and that I was going to carry out some simple tactical exercise or go through some fighting or outpost drill.1 Recruit Atkins, though still in civilian dress, would be placed in the ranks as rear-rank man to Recruit Robinson, a clever lad in the first squad.' It would be Robinson's affair to see that he not only did right himself, but that Atkins conformed thereto. Suppose that the lesson consisted in the manoeuvring of a skirmishing line by means of whistle and signal; there was no difficulty in carrying out at the double ' any evolution in the book (and some others) so long as every frontrank man was reasonably competent. There was, of course, as a natural consequence, some talking in the ranks, and it was not always of a drawing-room description; but the result was what I wanted; Robinson landed Atkins where the latter ought to arrive, and in order to do so had to pay attention, keep his eyes open, use his wits, and thus acquire a sense of responsibility. A few weeks later Atkins would similarly find himself looking after Brown. Having thus introduced the method, it will, I think, facilitate further explanation to give in detail the general results which I expected to achieve with the average recruit by the end of his three months' course of instruction. I do not think that more than 10 per cent. fell below the standard;

1 Tactical drills are 'living pictures,' intended to illustrate the elementary features of tactical methods, and are quite distinct from tactical exercises. In tactical drills a corner of the barrack-square or drill-field, with real men arranged thereon, takes the place of the blackboard and chalk of the lecture-room; the dispositions are in miniature, and are made regardless of 'the use of ground.' But in tactical exercises the knowledge previously gained is practically applied, upon the principle that, having been taught what he has to do, the soldier has now to learn how to do it, and by experience to become efficient for service in the field.

but of these a few, owing to lack of intelligence, would be very inferior; whilst of those who rose above the average, instances of extraordinary superiority were, I admit, rare, for the simple reason that the course of instruction was not long enough to permit a great development. I ought, I think, also to point out that these results were obtained with recruits who were mostly of agricultural origin. Had the men been town-bred the drill would have been better and the field work not so good. At all events, the standard to which I expected the average recruit to attain was that he should be:

(1) Reasonably smart in all squad drill and capable of taking his place in a company composed to some extent of trained men.

(2) Fairly smart at handling his arms in manual exercise and otherwise.

(3) Able to lay an 'aim' accurately on the tripod, and to load, aim, and fire blank cartridge without danger to comrades.

(4) Quick at using ground and cover so as to avoid danger, and use the rifle to advantage.

(5) Thoroughly acquainted with the field signals; not only able to understand them, but also to give them properly.

(6) Smart and quick when working in extended order 2 by signalincluding the 'emergency formations.'

(7) Acquainted with the work of advanced, rear, and flank guards. (8) Well up in all duties on outpost that fall to the lot of the group leader or private soldier.

(9) Clever at scouting, so far as regards using ground in order to see without being seen, and possessed of some capacity to interpret natural signs.

(10) Acquainted with the nature of the most important exploits of his regiment in the past.

(11) Sufficiently good at gymnastics to satisfy an inspecting officer of the Army Gymnastic Staff.

Before proceeding to detail the methods employed for the execution of the foregoing programme, I feel compelled to explain that an essential element of the system was a complete disregard of the 'Regulations' in all cases where they were found antagonistic to success. The Regulations of those days rendered training difficult, if they were observed; whilst, in my opinion, the present Regulations have rendered it impossible.

I will now take the items in their order.

(1 and 2) Though I spent far less time on these matters than is usual, the officer commanding the 'home battalion' was good enough to say that the general results were actually more satisfactory than before. My plan was to ensure that no particular kind of instruction was continued for long at a time, and weariness was consequently

2 All recruits would also have had some practice as section commanders, and about 30 per cent. would be fairly capable by the end of the course.

prevented. If the attention of recruits is to be kept, there must be variety.

(3) Musketry instruction was not provided for in the regulation course, so I arranged with the officer commanding home battalion that this should take the place of 'kit inspection,' which the recruits were left to learn after joining the battalion.

(4) This was dealt with by exercising very small squads, chiefly in the drill-field, and larger squads elsewhere, as opportunity offered. The facilities for the latter were not great. We had also a certain number of small field-days, in conjunction with the local Volunteers, and in these exercises the old soldiers of the depôt were called upon to take part.

(5) The foundation of instruction in field signals was 'signal drill.' The squad would be formed as for bayonet exercise (that is to say, in four ranks, with intervals between men), the more advanced recruits being placed in front. The whole squad then went through all the signals by word of command, those who did not know how to make them copying those who did. A little signal drill would often be interpolated just to give variety in the course of other instruction. Every time the squads marched to the drill-field a variety of signals would be passed by the advanced guard, through the connecting files, to the main body of the squad.

(6) Extended order drills were carried out daily, at the end of the midday parade, on the grass alongside the barrack-square or in the drill-field, except when an exercise was performed in the country. All recruits took part, including men not yet clothed in uniform. The uninstructed were each placed in charge of a first squad recruit.

(7) Advanced guard and other drills were similarly performed on the barrack-square, so that all could see what had to be done, and by whom. In the country, from time to time, the men were taught to put in practice the knowledge they had gained.

(8) The procedure in this case was the same as for No. 7. Outposts were also practised, by night, with the local Volunteers.

(9) The foundation of this class of instruction was no more nor less than hide and seek.' A simple scheme would be written out and hung up, with a map of the country, in the coffee-shop' the day before the exercise. Half a dozen men, natives of the selected district or well acquainted with it, were sent out under a sergeant to represent hostile scouts, whose object it was to approach or get into Taunton. The rest of the recruits then reconnoitred the prescribed area and tried to capture the scouts. A scout who penetrated the cordon received, on arrival in barracks, a bottle of ginger beer. The scouts, being well acquainted with every field-path, were very often successful. All were as keen as possible, thoroughly enjoyed themselves, had plenty of exercise, and learned to see without being seen,' as well as the working of a reconnoitring party, including the

transmission of information. These exercises took place on the days set apart by regulation for route marching. There was but one route march during the whole of my two years, and this one was unavoidably executed, there being no officer off duty to conduct a tactical exercise.

(10) At every lecture some incident from the history of the regiment was introduced, if possible, in order to serve as an illustration of something alluded to. Lectures by officers were abolished by regulation, but I continued them. The use of the blackboard, combined with catechising in the lecture-room, is a great help to teaching the soldier his business on advanced rear and flank guards, on picquet, and in attack and defence.

(11) I paid no attention to the Regulations under which recruits were supposed to have gymnastic merits in accordance with their number of weeks' service. My recruits went ahead as each was able. One man might be in the 'First Gymnastic Squad' a few days after joining, or another never during his time at the depôt. At gymnastics, as also at drill, I personally passed on all recruits from the lower to the higher squads, advancing them on parade in sight of their comrades, and thus promoting emulation. The Chief Inspector of Gymnasia expressed himself highly pleased with what he saw.

Before ending these reminiscences it is, perhaps, worth while to remark that upon the first 'general's inspection' that I underwent the test of efficiency applied was a performance of the bayonet exercise, judging the time,' by the old soldiers of the depôt ! Naturally this was a very poor display. I had imagined that the business of the old soldiers was to do all the fatigues, and when brought on parade to be of assistance in training the recruits. Consequently, 'show' had in their case been sadly neglected. We obtained a bad report, but, fortunately, the Colonel was strong-minded, and did not care. The following year we succeeded in getting the General to have a look at the recruits and to ignore the old soldiers; with the result that we were well reported upon. Yet the first year's experience had been rather heart-breaking. I had looked forward to showing the General what the recruits could do out in the drill-field, but was not permitted to exhibit them. For example, I had particularly desired to prove the simplicity of the 'emergency formations' afterwards described in my lecture at the Royal United Service Institution on the 3rd of March, 1898, by performing them all with practically untrained recruits, and, moreover, with recruits acting as section commanders. Any recruit then in the barracks who had a month's service to his credit could have explained to the inspecting officer the object of each emergency formation,' and why it was performed in the manner presented. My disappointment may be imagined when I found that the result of all our work was to be judged from the proficiency of the old soldiers at bayonet exercise, a performance which I knew that they

were unequal to (because unpractised for it), and in which I did not care twopence whether they were expert or not.

This article has already extended to a length far exceeding what I expected it to attain ; but I trust that those who may have the patience to read it through will thereby be enabled to realise what is needed, what has hitherto been done to that end, and how much remains to be done. I was told that field instruction would be wasted upon recruits-that they would speedily forget. This was not the opinion of Major-General Bengough, whose brigade at Aldershot the home battalion afterwards joined. General Bengough stated publicly that 'the young soldiers of the Somersetshire Light Infantry knew more about their field duties than the old soldiers of regiments that had been two and three years at Aldershot.' For this boasting I crave forgiveness upon the ground that it furnishes an essential piece of evidence.

A. W. A. POLLOCK,

Lieut.-Colonel (late) Somersetshire L.I.