Note 1 — PART II. MILITARY SYSTEM AND SCHOOLS IN PRUSSIA.
Reading edition
Compiled from the “Report, and Accompanying Documents of the Royal Commission on Foreign Military Education,” 1857.
2 Thus Landsturm is the word used for the rising en masse of the Tyrol in 1809.
3 The chief authority for this paper is a very detailed account of the Staff School, (Kriegs-Schule,) by Friedländer, pp. 1-360.
4 “Histoire de mon Temps.”—Œuvres, vi., p. 99.
5 He gives himself, in his forcible style, the reasons for his attention to early military schools. He had found his young nobility excessively averse to such education. “They shrink from the army,” he said, “because in this country it is a real training for the character. Nothing is passed over in a young officer; he is obliged to maintain a prudent, regular, and sensible conduct. . . . . . This is precisely what they dislike, and one still hears the absurd and insolent expression, ‘If my boy will not work, he will do none the worse for a soldier.’ Yes, he may do for a mere man-at-arms (fantassin,) but not for an officer fit to be advanced to the highest commands, the only end of a good soldier’s life, and which requires a really extensive knowledge.”—Œuvres, ix., 117, 120.
6 This certificate, according to a statement received in conversation, is in the first instance from the officers of the company, to the effect that the ensign in question is well conducted and likely to be a desirable addition to their number; then from the major of the battalion, and from the colonel of the regiment.
7 Not from the Tutors, but from the non-resident Professors and Teachers.
8 Lectures each week in the War School, Prussia.
War School. First Year. Second Year. Third Year.
Mathematics, Pure, 3 3 3
Mathematics, Mixed, 3 3 3
H. Geodesy, .. .. 3
Physical Geography, 2 .. ..
General “ 4 .. ..
Special “ .. 4 ..
Universal History, 4 4 ..
General History of Literature, .. .. 4
Logic, .. 4 ..
Physics, .. 4 ..
Chemistry, .. .. 4
Veterinary Art, .. 2 ..
Tactics, 4 4 ..
Artillery, 3 .. ..
Fortification, Field, 2 .. ..
Fortification, Permanent, .. 2 ..
Fortification, Sieges, .. .. 2
Military Administration, 2 .. ..
History of War, .. .. 7
Staff Duty, .. .. 3
Military Law, .. .. 1
French, 6 6 6
Russian, 4 4 4
Total, 37 40 40
It would be impossible to enter on a detailed criticism either of these lectures or of the essays mentioned in the note above which evidently imply great study. We invite a comparison with the French plan, which we have given elsewhere, but the difference of age must be taken into account. The mathematical course at this school is,—
1st year. Plane and Spherical Trigonometry, Quadratic Equations, involving several unknown quantities, the Binomial Theorem, and the Elements of Analytical and Solid Geometry.
2d year. Analytical Geometry and the Differential and Integral Calculus.
3d year. Mechanics, Statics, Dynamics, Projectiles, and slight Applications.
Only the first year is obligatory.
9 Seminary for Teachers at Weissenfels.
10 Translated from Helldorf’s “Dienst-Vorschriften der Könighlich-Preussischen Armée.”
11 By Col. Beauchamp Walker, C. B. 1869.