THE FUTURE SOLDIERS OE ENGLAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1714, 18 August 1879, Page 3

THE FUTURE SOLDIERS OE ENGLAND.

Wo read in the London •'* Globe—- “ General Pitzmayer’s pungent comments on the sybaritic environments of cadets, both at Woolwich and Sandhurst, may possibly savor somewhat of the laudator temporis acti school of criticism, but the dietary list which accompanies the report shows, we think, that high living is rather too much the order of the day at these institutions. Thus, at Woolwich, 14!bs. of meat are allowed per diem for the dinners of every nine cadets. In addition, they have cither fish, sausages, hash, cold ham, cold pie, or eggs and bacon at breakfast. The supper dietary is not mentioned, as the cadets have to furnish that meal in their private rooms out of a monthly allowance of 4s per head provided for the purpose. It is stated, however, that a store containing tongues, potted meats, hams, &c., is at their service so long as their funds hold out, and we may therefore safely assume that meat is also generally eaten for a third time each day. But those hungry young gentlemen are not made to fast from breakfast until dinner, or from the latter meal until supper. At half-past eleven they are served with what is called ‘morning luncheon’ consisting of ‘bread, biscuits, butter ad lib. and one pint of beer per head.’ During the afternoon comes another light refection for those who choose to pay an extra 3d per diem, called ‘ afternoon luncheon,’ consisting of tea, coffee, bread, butter, and milk ad lib. Between five and six p.m. tea is placed on the table, the allowed quantities being loz. tea, £ quart of milk, loz. of sugar, tlb of bread, and loz. of butter per head. Thus, altogether, there are no less than s;x meals during each day, at three of which meat may be partaken of. As it is simply impossible to imagine that the cadets really consume such an enormous quantity of food, there seems every reason to believe that a good deal of waste must go on, to the diaadvanl age both of the State and of the lads themselves. The former has to pay so much the more for maintaining the Royal Military Academy, and the latter receive a standing lesson in extravagance. As for the light claret so severely censured by General Fitzmayer, we do not make much account of his objections on that score. His own oonttitution may have been equal to the regime of ‘ emetic and low diet ’ to which he fondly looks back, but when a growing youngster is recovering from sickness, or in feeble health, light claret has its advantages. Wo heartily agree, however, with the rest of the general’s strictures on the too luxurious mode of living both at Woolwich and Sandhurst.”