The Admiralty has issued an interesting Circular dealing with the
education of Midshipmen under the new scheme during their three years' service at sea. After two years at Osborne and two more at Dartmouth, the Cadets will in future go to sea for di months' service and practical instruction on two training cruisers. They will then at the age of seventeen go to sea regularly for three years, receiving practical training in officers' duties and seamanship under the executive officer, and special instruction in gunnery, torpedo, navigation, engineer- ing, ac., under specialist officers. But while their practical instruction will be under the superintendence of the officers of the ship, the results of such training will be tested annually by papers sent out by the Admiralty, and dealing with all the five compulsory subjects in the subsequent examination for the rank of Lieutenant. They will also be examined, if they choose, in two out of six extra subjects. The examination for the rank of Lieutenant will be held on shore at the close of the three years' service at sea, and on passing they will remain at sea for two years longer before any of them are selected to specialise in any of the several branches of gunnery, torpedo, navigation, or engineering, and sent to attend special courses at Greenwich. The Circular lays great stress on the practical nature of the training which is secured during the five years spent at sea ; but it does not meet the serious criticism directed against the scheme by those who point out that the practical efficiency of Midshipmen will not be tested by senior officers with sea-going experience, but by examiners on shore.
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