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2.-SHORT COURSE.

The short course is chiefly a modification of the other. Thus, allowing ten days for the exercise in heavy guns (the time allowed in the short course for men qualifying for gunnery ratings), the first three days cover the ground of the first four days in the long course; the fourth (short course) corresponds to the 12th and 13th; the fifth, to the 5th and 14th; the sixth, to the 6th and 15th; and so on. In field exercise a similar plan is pursued, but the course is even more curtailed. In ammunition, pistol drill, musketry, and other branches, the chief omissions are in the firings. The short course, varied to suit the requirements of the dif ferent classes of students, may be said to be the course pursued by acting sub-lieutenants, voluntary lieutenants, and officers of the Marine Artillery. A still shorter course is taken by the voluntary captains and commanders.

3.-ACTING SUB-LIEUTENANTS' EXAMINATION.

It remains to notice the important points in the examination of acting sub-lieutenants. This, as has been before stated, is the third and final examination of these officers before confirmation as sub-lieutenants, the other two being seamanship, conducted on shipboard, and navigation and kindred subjects, at the college at Greenwich.* It is therefore the last required examination in their career as officers. There are other examinations, it is true, which officers are required to pass who adopt certain specialties, as gunnery, navigation, &c., and there are examinations at the close of the lieutenants' course at Greenwich, but in all these cases the preliminary steps which involve an examination are voluntary with each individual. The examination in gunnery is practically, then, the last required examination for officers.

The time of the examination is five days, and the numbers given in each branch are as follows:

Relative weights for passing certificates.-Acting sub-lieutenants' gunnery examination.

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*Allusion has already been made to the new regulation, which goes into effect in

1883, establishing a fourth examination, in pilotage.

As to the requirements and character of this examination. In the branch relating to heavy guns, each sub-lieutenant is required to be able to take any number at a gun, and to drill in Part II of the Gunnery Manual, with detail. He is also to answer all questions connected with the instruction, parts of the gun, carriage and slide, dismounting the gear, adjusting and mounting the compressor, &c. He must be able to drill quarters efficiently, and to detect and correct mistakes.

In field exercise, candidates must put a squad through rifle exercises and squad drill, with detail, and be able to perform thoroughly the duties of officer and man in company drill, and to give general detail of any section. He must be able to give any of the selected sections of the battalion in Part III of the Gunnery Manual, and to answer other questions relating to instruction, and especially the details of equipment for landing.

In ammunition he is required to describe and state the use of the different fuses, and to explain the supply and stowage of projectiles, filling and using, and the proportion allowed; to give the names and describe the manufacture and use of the different powders in the service, and the stowage and working of magazines and shell-rooms, and to explain rocket and mortar boats, the manufacture of cartridges, the supply of boat's stores, and the working of boat's guns.

In truck-guns the examination is similar to that in heavy guns, but goes less deeply into the subject, on account of the shorter time devoted to it. Under the head of turret-instruction the examination covers the duties and position of the different numbers in loading, training, and running in and out turret-guns; the principle of turret-firing and the method of sighting, the supply of projectiles, and the construction and support of the turret.

In cutlass and pistol exercise the candidate is required to perform the exercise and put a squad through without detail.

In field-gun and battery he must perform any duty in the drill, with detail of the various manœuvers. In battery drill he must be prepared with any selected sections, and he must understand the method of embarking and disembarking field-guns from boats.

Finally, he must pass a paper on the theory of gunnery, and an oral examination composed of general questions on the Gunnery Manual. On passing this examination the acting sub-lieutenants are confirmed in their rank, and become eligible for promotion in the order of their seniority. The number of each certificate is noted in the Navy List. The Goodenough gold medal is given to the acting sub-lieutenant who, among those who have taken a first class in seamanship, passes the best examination in gunnery. An officer failing to obtain a certificate in gunnery is allowed a month's further study, and at the end of it a re-examination. If he fail to pass this he is discharged from the service.* "Specimens of examination-papers for sub-lieutenants and for gunnery lieutenants on board the Excellent are given in the Appendix, Note G.

4.-GUNNERY LIEUTENANTS' EXAMINATION.

The examination for gunnery lieutenants is of course much higher and more complete than that just described. It has already been stated what percentages are necessary to obtain certificates in the Greenwich examination. The passing limit is higher in the practical, or gunnery course, than in the theoretical; especially in the case of the second class certificate, the limit for which is so low (30 per cent.) at Greenwich, that it must require very little diligence or ability to pass. In the practical examination at the end of the Excellent course for gunnery lieutenants, the relative weights are as follows:

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Gunnery lieutenants may be re-appointed to the Excellent, on their own application, after an absence of three years. The course of instruction in such cases is of five months' duration.

CHAPTER IX.

TORPEDO INSTRUCTION.

Instruction in torpedoes is given on board the Vernon, at Portsmouth, which forms a sort of floating torpedo-school, as the Excellent is a floating gunnery-school. The Vesuvius, a double-screw iron torpedo-vessel, of 260 tons, is attached as a tender to the Vernon. The officers, for instruction and otherwise, are a captain, commander, three torpedo lieutenants, two engineers, and eleven gunners. There are also in the Vesuvius a torpedo lieutenant, a chief engineer, and a gunner. The lieutenants generally hold their position for two or three years.

Lieutenants desirous of qualifying as torpedo officers are, when employed, to be recommended to the Admiralty by their captains, through the commanders-in-chief. Appointments are made to the Vernon on October 1, of each year, and officers so appointed remain on the ship's books during the whole course. Candidates who have not served one year at sea as lieutenants are appointed to a sea-going ship to complete that period as officer of the watch. The total period of instruction, including a vacation of three weeks, is eighteen months, and is distributed as follows: Theoretical course at Greenwich, nine months; senior torpedo-course, two months; Whitehead instruction, three weeks; diving instruction in Excellent, two weeks; vacation, three weeks; and torpedo instruction in Vernon, five months.

The final examination is in March, after passing which the torpedo lieutenant, unless his services are absolutely required at sea, takes part in the torpedo course ending in June and assists in the instruction of officers. If not then required for sea-service he continues to assist in the senior course ending in September. Between these two courses a period of fourteen days' leave is allowed. If it is found during any period of the course that a lieutenant is not likely to prove efficient as a torpedo officer, his name is submitted to the Admiralty with a view to his removal from the books of the Vernon. Officers qualifying within the stipulated period are allowed to count the whole time they are borne in the Vernon as time on full pay. Officers who have taken more than the regular time to qualify count any surplus as halfpay time, and those who do not qualify at all count the whole time of their service in the Vernon as half-pay time.

The following is the list of subjects, with their relative weight, in the course for torpedo officers:

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