THE NEW STAFF COLLEGE.
On Wednesday the Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by a large staff, visited Sandhurst, inspected the cadets and their drawings, and laid the foundation-stone of the building. Colonel MacDougall, the Com- mandant of the College, expressed his gratitude to the Commander-in- Chief for the support he had given to an -institution of which he was "the creator." He also said- " In the institution now honoured by your Royal Highness, it is neither our hope nor our expectation to convert every young student into a first-rate General ; fcr while it is undoubtedly true that no man, whatever his apti- tude for war, can hope to become a great General without constant study and practice ; on the other hand, it is equally true that all the practice and study in the world will not make a General of the man to whom nature has denied those qualifications, both of brain and nerve, which are so rarely found united an the same person, but which, when so found, constitute the great commander. What we do hope to do is to give to every officer who passes through this College such a theoretical and, Ss far as is possible in a time of peace, such a practical training as may render him a valuable instrument fitted to the hand of any General to whom he may be attached."
The Duke of Cambridge laid the foundation-stone of the new building to be erected at Sandhurst for the reception of the students in the Staff College. This institution, established two years ago, has hitherto been forced to entrench on the accommodation of the Military College. The students, at first fifteen, have increased to thirty, and it is fitting that they should have a separate abode. The new building will accommodate forty,. The building will be 265 feet long, 110 broad, and fifty-five in height, its style of architecture modern Italian, and the material brick and stone. The main entrance will be by the west front, and over it the Royal arms will be emblazoned, surmounted by the crest of the College. At each end will be a tower, rising about twenty feet above the rest of the building. The principal apartments will comprise the great ball, lecture-rooms, study-halls, libraries, and mess-room. The grand hall will be approached from the front by a handsome vestibule, and commu- nication will be had to two spacious quadrangles by lengthened corridors. A wide stone staircase will lead up to the first floor, and on the landing there will be an ornamental balustrade surmounted by Ionic columns. The contract also includes the erection of suitable residences for the Com- mandant and Adjutant of the College, together with stabling for a stud of forty horses.
Colonel MacDougall praised the students for the brotherly feeling they had shown, even in competition, for their assiduity, good sense, and gentleman-like bearing. Subsequently, after luncheon, the certificates were awarded to those who have completed their studies, and the Duke of Cambridge took ad- vantage of the occasion to address the students. lie said-
" Gentlemen—I am very glad to be able to congratulate you on the re- sults of the examination. It is highly satisfactory to me to have so good a report of the trouble and pains you have taken is preparing yourselves while at this College for those important staff duties wine& are so necessary in an argry, and which, if not properly fulfilled, must end in serious disaster to tbotrcops with which you may be engaged. I may observe that you pos- sess a very great advantage honeying at the head of your College an officer like Colonel MacDeugall, for whom I have a great regard—I may almost say affection, for he is, in fact, one of the most satisfactory men to deal with whom I have ever met. It would therefore be strange indeed if you had not progressed under such a chief, who carries his men along with him more than any other man I ever knew. I do not, however, mention the assistance which you have received from Colonel MacDougall, or from the admirable staff of professors who have devoted their time in furtherance of your pursuits with any intention to detract from the merit which belongs to you. You have profited by their labours and their cooperation, and you have come up in the end to their expectations and to ours. The question of education is one of very considerable difficulty. We all desire to see it carried to the highest possible pitch, so that the education given does not reach a point where it would destroy efficiency. Your mere book- worm is a very respectable person in his way, but he is not alto- gether the man you want for a staff-officer. You want to have book learning and all other necessary qualities combined. Therefore, gentlemen, as you have now obtained a great amount of theoretical, and, I am bound to add, practical knowledge to fit you for the Army, while I would recommend you to keep up your studies by books, I would urge you to devote yourselves specially to mastering the interior economy of a regi- ment and all those minor and practical details, an acquaintance with which
I contend is as essential in many respects as the higher subjects of study connected with our profession. Don't disregard these things, then, because you have taken honours and gained a high position in mathematics and other useful acquirements. Don't forget those small details, without which an army cannot get on. Sometimes, indeed, an army suffers severely from the neglect of the most minute arrangements, and matters which some would think of the very least importance, may, after all, prove of more con- sequence than all the rest besides. Let me, then, impress upon you the necessity, when you return to the service and obtain those staff appoint- ments which I trust to see you all filling, of your applying yourselves to everything which can increase your qualification for your profession with the same zeal and devotion as you have shown within the walls of this in- stitution. Gentlemen, I can only congratulate you again on the very,fa- vourable account I have received of your proficiency. The progress you have made must, I am sure, be very satisfactory to the Governor, Sir Harry Jones, and to the professors ; and I will only add that whenever I visit this place again, if I should be spared to do so, and get an equally good report,
I shall be exceedingly gratified."
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