PART III. MILITARY SYSTEM AND SCHOOLS IN AUSTRIA. (continued 2)

As the army is not only to be composed of drilled soldiers, but also of generally well educated men, in order to improve their intellectual position and the spirit of the army, and to prevent the undue growth of drill and mere formalities, it is of great necessity that the military schools should be brought into harmonious concert with the civil schools. The deficiencies of the latter are less than those of the former, and it may be expected that they will soon be removed. In accordance with these considerations (and there are yet many more), it is much to be recommended that these two institutions should be abolished, not only as being right in principle, but also in agreement with the laws of national economy.

By the laying down of the system of education to be taught at the common middle schools, as a condition of being allowed to enter a military academy, in connection with the influences of the moral development of the family circle, up to the fifteenth year of a boy’s life, it is to be hoped that the general above-named principles will be attained; and when the poor officers are allowed the means to educate their boys aspiring for the military academies by granting them pecuniary allowances, it may be hoped that they will not only be contented, and will care for the moral education of their children, but that the State also will find in the system the best means of attaining its object.

As regards the higher schools, especially military ones, the following may be observed:—

There are two establishments at present:

(a.) The Military Academy and Wiener Neustadt for general education.

(b.) The Engineer Academy, as a special school for the engineers, and for the instruction of officers in general.

The latter of the two is not efficient enough, for not more than eight or ten persons at most are instructed as engineers in it, the rest being detailed for the infantry, cavalry, &c. As by the establishment and organization of division schools a sufficient supply of officers aspirant is provided, and as the officers detailed from the above-named academies to the line are not more efficient than the scholars of the division schools (especially when the extra cost of the academy education is considered), the Engineer Academy must be looked upon as much too expensive. I agree, therefore, with those who recommend its abolition. On the other hand, the Neustadt Academy, which offers to its students a more general, and therefore a better founded education, and where highly instructed officers can be educated in larger numbers, may be allowed to remain, both in consideration of its efficiency and in honor of its serene foundress, the great Empress Maria Theresa, but on condition of its being reorganized in accordance with the principles laid down by that noble lady in the following words:—“That in this school shall be formed men only, and of them soldiers.”

The said academy must, however, seek to attain to a higher degree of perfection than of late. The classics must be more cultivated, as also national economy and a general civilized education. It should be organized for a course of six years, and it should receive students, sons of officers or military officials, who have successfully passed two or three Latin or technical schools.

The following subjects should be taught, besides the military and mathematical sciences:—

(1.) The Latin language, sufficient to understand the Roman classics.

(2.) All human sciences; particular attention should be paid to style, as it has been observed that since Latin has not been taught in the Wiener Neustadt Academy, there has been a great falling off in this respect. Rhetoric is to be taught in a practical manner, as the knowledge of how to speak is of importance in our constitutional era.

(3.) Philosophy, two years; in the first year, psychology; in the second year, logic to its full extent, moral philosophy, metaphysics, and the history of philosophy.

(4.) Statecraft, state and international law, and the fundamental law of the Austrian monarchy.

(5.) The rudiments of economy and national economy.

As special schools for the army the following should be retained:—

(a.) A special engineer and artillery school.

(b.) A special school for the pioneer corps, where the special knowledge necessary for that arm, as well as other military matters, are taught. The scholars should be between the ages of 16 and 19 years.

The students of the institutions intended for the education of the engineers and artillery will be enrolled in their respective corps quartered in Vienna. They will there have to pass a proper course of high mathematics, natural philosophy, and architecture at the Polytechnic; after they have succeeded in this, they will be either detailed for two years’ active duty with their corps, or they may be at once ordered to pass through a higher combined course for artillery and engineers. If this will suffice for the due supply of technically instructed officers, the artillery and engineer academies may be abolished.

As regards the present school for the General Staff, it may be recommended that a general college for the whole army should be formed from it, wherein not only the higher military sciences should be taught, but also statecraft and national economy. It would be right to examine a candidate before he entered the college in the rudiments of natural philosophy and chemistry.

The student may obtain the time necessary for the cultivation of these two sciences by reducing the time till now assigned to sketching and surveying; the more so, as the student will have already attained a great perfection in this branch of his education by former study of it in the public and preparatory schools.

SYSTEM AS REORGANIZED IN 1869.

(A.)—ESTABLISHMENTS FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH.

1. Military Orphan Asylum.

Military orphans and other deserving candidates for the army are supported in this establishment. They are educated at the public schools.

The number of pupils is 150. They pass thence into the other institutions, according to their talents and final destination.

2. Military Technical Schools.

At present four in number. It is proposed to reduce them to two. The course is of three years. Number of pupils, 150 in each school. They are educated for the Technical Academy, and to provide good non-commissioned officers for the Artillery and Engineers. They enter at 14 and leave at 16 years of age, at the end of their third year’s course of study. Those enter the Technical Academy who have most distinguished themselves; the others are sent either for a two years’ course to the Division Schools, or else to the Artillery Officers’ Aspirant Schools.

3. The Military College.

The course is for two years. This is chiefly intended as a preparatory school for the Military Academy at Wiener Neustadt.

4. The Military Academies.

These institutions are intended to provide the army with officers properly qualified for the various branches of the army.

(1.) The Wiener Neustadt Academy.—The course is of four years. Number of scholars 100 per annum, or a total of 400. The academy is intended for the education of candidates for the Infantry Regiments of the Line and Military Frontier, the Jagers, and the Cavalry.

(2.) The Technical Academy (established in Vienna) for the education of the best pupils of the technical schools for the artillery, engineer, and pioneer services. The course is of four years; 65 scholars in each year, or 260 total. Each year’s course of study is divided into two sections, one for artillery pupils, one for engineer pupils.

It is proposed that these officers should be attached to their respective corps in Vienna during their course of study, and should attend lectures at the Polytechnic at Vienna. When this course is over, they are to be attached for two years’ service with their corps, or sent direct to go through the higher artillery or engineer course.

(B.)—SCHOOLS ATTACHED TO REGIMENTS OR DIVISIONS.

1. Regimental, Troop, and Cadet Schools.

Besides the troop schools in each regiment or independent battalion, there is one of the cadet schools for the education of all those, from the rank of sergeant downwards, who aspire to the rank of cadet, or who desire to acquire the preparatory knowledge necessary to be admitted into the schools for officers aspirant.

The number of pupils depends on the number of individuals qualified. The course is of two years.

2. Regimental Schools for Officers aspirant.

(a.) For the Artillery—The course is of two years; 50 scholars annually.

(b.) For the Engineers—A two years’ course for each. Pioneers—Number of pupils according to demand.

3. Divisional Schools for Officers aspirant.

There is a school of this sort in each of the 23 infantry and cavalry divisions, and for the country gendarmerie.

The course is of two years. Number of pupils not fixed (at present nearly 1,200), in addition to which is the special instruction for their respective arms; when they have successfully passed an examination at the end of the course, they become officers aspirant.

(C.)—ESTABLISHMENTS FOR MORE ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION.

1. The Higher Courses for the Artillery, and (2) Engineers.

These are intended for the formation of highly scientific officers for the more important duties and higher command of these arms, and for the army in general. The course is of two years. The number of officer students is not fixed, but must depend on the number of highly qualified candidates of the above arms. They must have served for two years with their corps with distinction.

3. War School (Staff College).

This institution is intended for the formation of officers for the general staff. The course is of two years. The number of students is 80.

An officer must have served at least three years with his corps with distinction before he can be admitted, and officers who have served longer will, as a rule, be preferred.

(4.) Course for Military Frontier Instruction.

This is an academy for those who are already serving in the army. The course is of two years, and the number of pupils is regulated by the demand. The studies are as follows:—

State organization and frontier administration.

Civil and military law and legal procedure.

Agriculture, law of commerce, and exchange.

Revenue law and institutions.

Croatian language.

5. Central Cavalry School at Vienna.

The object of this establishment is to prepare distinguished regimental officers for the higher commands in cavalry, and to instruct them in the theory and practice of that arm, and the haute école of riding.

There are 41 students of the rank of captain (1st and 2d class), or one from each cavalry regiment. The course is of one year. The studies are as follows:—

Theoretical and practical riding, training of unbroken horses, service and drill regulations of cavalry, veterinary art, leaping, fencing, pistol-shooting, rudiments of strategy and history of war, tactics, field service, occupation of ground, surveying, army organization, knowledge of arms, pioneer and engineer service, practical drill, and field service and reconnaissances.

6. Josephinum Academy for Medicine and Surgery,

For the formation of students for the higher grades of the medical and surgical departments, from the rank of first lieutenant-surgeon.

This establishment ranks with the upper school of surgery at Vienna. The number of students from the army is fixed at 242. When there is accommodation there are, besides this, paying students.

7. Military Veterinary Institution,

Consisting of two sections:—(1.) Veterinary. (2.) Farriery.

Students who have passed the necessary examinations are entitled to their diploma and rights in the same way as students of the civil veterinary school in Hungary.

The students of the veterinary section are field surgeons and farriers.

The students of the farriery section are non-commissioned officers and soldiers and civilians. The number of soldier students depends upon the requirements of the army.

8. Course for the Intendance.

This establishment, when organized, is intended to qualify captains or first-lieutenants on the active establishment of infantry or cavalry, captain auditors, and properly qualified clerks, for the administration of the Intendance of the army now in progress of formation.

COURSES OF STUDY IN THE MILITARY SCHOOLS.

(I.) COURSE OF SCIENCES TO BE TAUGHT AND LECTURED ON AT THE REGIMENTAL CADET SCHOOLS.

Subjects. Course of Lectures during—

1st Year. 2d Year.

German Language and Style, 1 1

The Regimental Dialect, 1 1

Caligraphy, 1 1

Military Style, 1 1

Arithmetic, 1 0

Algebra, 0 1

Practical Surveying, 1 1

Mapping and Tracing, 1 1

Geography, 1 1

History, 1 1

Drill and Manœuvre Regulations, 1 1

Service Regulations, 1 1

Field Service, 1 1

Pioneer Service, 1 1

Construction of Arms, 1 1

Hand Drawing, 1 1

Fencing, 1 1

Gymnastics, &c., 1 1

Target Practice, 1 1

(II.) COURSE OF INSTRUCTION AT THE SCHOOLS FOR OFFICERS ASPIRANT.

A.—Ordinary Course. 1st Year. 2d Year.

Military Style, 1 1

Military Essays, 1 0

Geometry and Trigonometry, 1 1

Higher Trigonometry and Conic Sections, 0 1

Mechanics, Natural History, and Chemistry, 0 1

Geometrical Drawing, 1 1

Practical Surveying, 1 0

Military Mapping, 0 1

Sketching and Tracing, 1 1

Geography, 1 1

Mathematical Geography, 0 1

History, 1 1

Military Administration, 1 1

Drill and Manœuvre Regulations, 1 1

Service Regulations, 1 0

Army Organization, 1 1

Tactics, 1 1

Field Fortifications 1 0

Permanent do., 0 1

Construction of Arms, 1 0

Hand Drawing, 1 0

Fencing, 1 1

Athletic Games, 1 1

Target Practice, 1 1

Riding, if possible, 0 1

B.—Course for the Pioneer Regiment.

High Mathematics.

Higher Trigonometry.

Practical do.

Analytical Geometry.

Mathematical Geography.

Natural History and Chemistry.

Military Economy and Finance.

Geography.

History.

Construction of Arms.

Fortification.

Architecture.

Mechanics.

Drill, Service, Manœuvre, Regulations.

Pioneer Service.

Surveying.

Tracing.

Athletic Games.

Fencing.

Swimming.

Tactics.

(III.) COURSE OF INSTRUCTION AT THE PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR THE WIENER NEUSTADT ACADEMY.

Subjects. Hours per Week—

1st Year. 2d Year.

Religious Instruction 1½ 1½

Latin, 7 7

Greek, 3 3

French, 4 4

German and Literature, 3 3

History and Geography, 5 5

Mathematics, 5 5

Natural History, 0 3

* Short-hand Writing, 3 0

* Caligraphy, 2 2

* Drawing, 2 2

* Athletic Games, 2 2

Dancing, 2 2

Swimming, 0 0

Total hours per week, 39½ 39½

* Subjects marked thus * are voluntary for scholars of classical schools, but are compulsory at the military schools.

(IV.) COURSE AT THE PREPARATORY SCHOOLS FOR THE TECHNICAL ACADEMY.

Subjects Hours per Week—

1st Year. 2d Year. 3d Year.

Religious Instruction, 2 1 1

German, 4 3 3

French, 4 3 3

History and Geography, 4 4 4

Mathematics, 7 5 5

Analytical Geometry and Drawing, 3 4 3

Natural History, 2 2 2

Natural Philosophy, 0 3 5

Practical Chemistry, 3 3 0

Hand and Mathematical Drawing, 2 4 4

Caligraphy, 1 0 0

Military Style and Finance, 2 2 2

Artillery and Pioneer practice, 4 4 3

Service Regulations, 1 1 1

Drill and Manœuvre Regulations, 2 2 3

Management of Horses, 0 0 2

Athletic Games and Fencing, 3 3 3

Total hours per week, 44 44 44

(V.) COURSE OF INSTRUCTION AT THE MILITARY ACADEMY AT WIENER NEUSTADT.

*Subjects—(Hours per Week) Years—

1st, 2d, 3d, 4th.

Religious Instruction, 1½ 1½ 0 0

Latin, 4 4 0 0

Greek, 3 2 0 0

French, 4 4 3 3

German and Literature, 3 3 3 0

History and Geography, 4 0 0 0

Physical Geography, 4 0 0 0

Preparatory Philosophy, 1½ 0 0 0

Philosophy, 0 4 0 0

Higher Mathematics, 5 6 0 0

Astronomy, 0 0 4 0

Analytical Geometry, 0 0 4 0

Practical ditto and Surveying, 0 3 0 0

Nat. Philos. and Fundamental Laws of Chemistry, 4 0 0 0

Theoretical Mechanics, 0 0 4 0

Review of Law and Statesmanship, 0 0 2 0

Cons’l Law of Austria, and its Adm’ive Org’tion, 0 0 3 0

European State and International Law, 0 0 0 3

Austrian Military Law (Criminal), 0 0 0 2

Military Finance, 0 0 2 3

Construction of Arms, 0 0 2 3

Pioneer Service, 0 0 3 0

Fortification, 0 0 0 4

History of War, 0 0 0 2

Drill Regulations, 2 0 0 0

Service do, 0 1½ 1½ 0

Manœuvre do, 0 0 1½ 1½

Cavalry do, 0 0 0 1½

Tactics, 0 0 0 6

Surveying, Tracing, and Mapping, 4 4 4 0

Riding, 0 0 0 6

Fencing, 2 2 2 2

Athletic Games and Dancing, each 2 hours, 4 4 0 0

Total hours per week, 42 41 41 41

* To these should be added the Bohemian and Hungarian language for the 3d and 4th years.

(VI.) COURSE OF INSTRUCTION AT THE TECHNICAL MILITARY ACADEMY AT VIENNA.

Subjects.—(Courses—United Preparatory, Engineer, Artillery.)

Preparatory. Engineer. Artillery.

Number of hours per week—Years— 1. 2. 3. 4. 3. 4.

Zoölogy and Botany, 3 0 0 0 0 0

Mineralogy, 1 0 0 0 0 0

Geology, 0 0 2 0 0 0

French, 3 3 3 2 3 2

Higher Math. 1, 2, 3, Higher Geodesy 4th yr. 8 5 2 4 2 4

Analytical Geometry 4 0 0 0 0 0

Sketching, 4 0 0 0 0 0

Practical Geometry, 0 4 0 0 0 0

Chemistry of Minerals, 3 0 0 0 0 0

Chemical Manufacture, 0 0 0 0 0 4

General and Technical Natural Philosophy, 2 3 0 0 0 0

Mechanical Technics, 0 0 2 0 2 0

Technical and Analytical Mechanics, 0 5 2 0 2 0

Construction of Machinery and Drawing, 0 0 4 0 0 0

Description of Machinery, 0 0 0 0 2 2

Mountain Roads, 0 4 0 0 0 0

Planning and Sketching, 0 0 5 6 0 0

Road and Water Communication, &c., 0 0 5 0 0 0

General Architecture, 0 0 0 0 3 0

Machine Making, 0 0 0 0 3 5

Building, 0 0 0 0 4 4

Ornamental Drawing, 0 0 0 4 0 0

Review of the Law, 0 0 0 2 0 2

Military Criminal Law, 0 0 0 1 0 1

Construction of Arms (Engineer), 0 2 0 0 0 0

Construction of Batteries (Artillery), 3 6 0 0 0 0

Pioneer service, 0 1 0 0 0 0

Fortification, 0 0 4 6 3 3

Sappers’ and Miners’ Duties, 0 0 0 2 0 0

Military Finance, 0 0 2 2 3 3

Drill Regulations, 2 0 0 0 0 0

Service ditto, 1½ 1½ 0 0 0 0

Manœuvre ditto, 0 0 0 2 3 0

Cavalry ditto, 0 0 0 0 0 2

Tactics, 0 0 2 2 2 2

Surveying and Tracing, 0 6 3 0 3 0

Riding, 0 0 3 3 6 6

Fencing, 2 2 2 2 2 2

Dancing, 2 2 0 0 0 0

Total hours per week, 40½ 41 43 43 51 50

(VII.) UPPER COURSE OF STUDY FOR ARTILLERY.

Subjects. Course—

1st Year. 2d Year.

French, 1 1

Practical Mechanics, 1 0

Construction of Machinery, 1 0

Fortification and Field Armaments, 0 1

Science of Higher Artillery, 1 0

Military Geography and Statistics, 1 0

Higher Tactics and Strategy, 0 0

National Economy and Finance, 1 0

Organization of the Constitution, and Administration, 0 1

State and International Law, 0 1

German Literature, 1 0

Active Duties of the General Staff, 0 1

(VIII.) UPPER COURSE OF STUDY FOR THE ENGINEERS.

Subjects. Course—

1st Year. 2d Year.

English, 1 1

Chemistry and Practical Technics, 1 1

The Mechanism of Building, 1 0

Fortification, 1 1

Architecture, 1 1

Ornamental Architecture, 1 1

Military History, 0 1

Science of Artillery, 0 1

Strategy, 1 0

National Economy and Finance, 1 0

Organization of the Constitution, and Administration, 0 1

State and International Law, 0 1

German Literature, 1 0

(IX.) UPPER COURSE OF STUDY FOR THE WAR SCHOOL.

Subjects. Course—

1st Year. 2d Year.

German Literature, 1 1

French, 1 1

Administrative Duties of the Staff, 1 1

Active Duties of the General Staff, 0 1

Tracing and Surveying, 1 1

Military Geography, 1 0

Higher Tactics, 1 0

Strategy, 0 1

Engineer Service, 0 1

Artillery Service, 0 1

Rudiments of State and International Law, 0 1

Rudiments of Nati’l Economy and Administrative Law, 0 1

Riding, 1 1

AUSTRIAN STAFF.

By recent ordinance the Special Staff Corps has been abolished. All the officers are borne on the army rosters according to their ranks, in particular branches of the service. No one will be allowed to enter the Staff School until he has served three or four years with the troops, and then captains and first lieutenants will be preferred to men of less service or rank. Having passed through the school course they will again join their regiments; and will then be appointed to the staff, as may be required. The period during which they are to remain on the staff will depend on their merits, their promotion, and the exigencies of the service; but as a principle they would generally rejoin their troop on promotion. There can be no doubt in the minds of those who have practically studied the question, that the system is sound. A special Staff Corps is never large enough to supply the demands of an army in the field for long, especially if the war is long and very active. The duties of a staff officer with an army actively engaged in the field, are so numerous and arduous that an enormous number are used up in the course of a campaign; and when you have only the Staff Corps to draw from, the supply of practical officers is not equal to the demand. The French experienced this in the Crimean War. By educating a number of young officers endowed by nature with the qualifications indispensable to form an efficient staff officer on active service, and by throwing them back into their regiments, they leaven the mass, and form a fund of selected and instructed officers from which can be drawn as occasion may require.—Col. Crealock to Military Ed. Com.

CAVALRY BRIGADE SCHOOLS FOR OFFICERS.

The following memorandum gives an account of an order lately issued, regulating Officers’ Brigade Schools in the Austrian cavalry.

The object of the Cavalry Brigade schools will be to secure a supply of efficient riding masters throughout the service capable of giving general instruction.

The Central Cavalry School will continue to be a higher military and scientific establishment, with (in addition to the theoretical education of the pupils) a course of instruction which insures a uniform system of equitation and of breaking horses. A certain number of its best pupils may be transferred, after a year’s attendance, to the Kriegs-Schule, with a view to their preparation for the staff.

Cavalry Officers’ Brigade Schools educate officers of that arm, theoretically as well as practically, in all their duties. After the termination of the autumn manœuvres one will be formed in each brigade. The annual course lasts six months, and should begin on the 1st of October.

It is the duty of the Brigadier to superintend the school, but it is also that of commanding officers of regiments to inform themselves of the progress of their officers, and consequently to visit it often.

Before the 15th of August the Brigadier proposes to the Minister of War the station at which the school should be established, also the names of the instructors and pupils. It rests with him to make all arrangements for setting it in operation; and as his supervision must be continual, he should (whenever practicable) place it at the head-quarters of his brigade. Above all, a covered riding school must be fitted up; then a drill ground, a manège with artificial fences, and a school, and fencing-room. Whenever possible the men and horses must be in barracks.

The best qualified officer in the brigade, of the rank of lieutenant-colonel or major, is to be selected for Commandant, and each school is to have two captains as instructors. One of them must have gone through the Central Cavalry School, and must have been reported as specially qualified to give instruction; the second must be considered one of the best horsemen in the brigade.

At the disposal of these officers there is the following staff:—one veterinary surgeon for instruction in the anatomy, diseases, and shoeing of horses; one sergeant in charge of the men and horses; one sergeant for quartermaster’s duties and accounts; one farrier; three corporals; one trumpeter; twelve men per regiment of the brigade; and the riders of the horses attached to the school.

If there is an auditor (Judge Advocate) available, he attends regularly to explain the Articles of War and give lectures on military law. Should there be none, this duty devolves upon one of the captain instructors.

Six officers from the rank of first lieutenant downwards are sent yearly from each regiment. Each of them brings with him, besides his own horses, the one allowed him by Government. Every regiment sends six remount horses that have passed the first stage of breaking, and six that have just joined.

The principal subjects of theoretical instruction are—1st, Regulations of the army; 2d, Tactics, particularly as referring to the handling of cavalry; 3d, Field movements, and especially outpost duty, which are to be illustrated by examples from the history of war; the pupils will also draw and describe a tract of country, and give written reports upon field operations; 4th, description of the anatomy and diseases of horses, with their management and feeding both in the stable and the field; shoeing theoretical and practical, in all its details; 5th, thorough practice in the use of cavalry weapons, a general acquaintance with the arms of the artillery and infantry of the principal military nations, and an accurate knowledge of those employed in the Imperial army; 6th, a general knowledge of field fortification and of the works to be executed by the Pioneer Corps in combination with cavalry; 7th, the study of tracts of country, extending to the observation of roads, streams, coverts, and undulations; the correct reading and understanding of maps.

The practical branch of education at these schools has for its main object the maintenance throughout the army of the best fundamental system of equitation, and the adoption of any improvements in the cavalry service in general which may appear advisable. To this is added practice in getting over long distances through every description of country, and in judging when and where halts should be made with most advantage to single horsemen, or to detachments of troops. These marches are to be combined with patrolling, reconnaissances, and posting piquets, and are to be practiced once a week.

After every such march the pupils will send in a brief report and rough sketch, either next morning or within forty-eight hours, as may be ordered. They are to practice making this sketch on horseback as well as on foot. They must perfect themselves in gymnastics, and in fencing and singlestick, both on foot and horseback.

The regulations issued to the Minister of War as to distribution of hours and reports will be strictly followed, and no deviation will be permitted except under particular circumstances. Sundays and holidays are observed. No leave of absence, except in cases of urgent necessity, can be granted to either instructors or pupils during the course.

At the end of the season of instruction (i.e. at the end of March) the Cavalry Officers’ Brigade School will be broken up; and all persons attached to it, and their horses, will return to their regiments.

EXPENDITURES ON MILITARY EDUCATION.

The appropriation for Military Education in Austria for 1870, was as follows:—

For non-commissioned officers and men, 504,000 florins (40,320l).

For officers, 978,000 florins (78,284l).