ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY The Royal Military Academy, situated on Woolwich common and familiarly known as "The Shop," dates from 1741. It was composed not only of cadets but also of young and untrained officers. Intended for the artillery and engineers, the curriculum also included a general education. The ages of the students varied from io to 3o. Cadets were admitted on the nomination of the master-general of the ordnance without examination, but as many possessed no education whatever an entrance examination of an easy character was introduced in 1774. This system has remained in force until our own day. In the early days discipline was of a low standard, and was enforced by corporal punishment or con finement to a dark cell on bread and water diet. The number of cadets in 1782 was 3o, rising to 90 in 1812. By 1870 the strength had increased to about 150. From 1900 onwards the strength has varied between 20o and 25o, except during the World War, when as many as 500 cadets were in residence. Between 1905 and 1911, owing to lack of accommodation at Sandhurst, cadets destined for infantry and cavalry were trained at Woolwich.
In 1806 buildings were erected on the present site and the academy was confined to cadets. Age limits for admission were fixed a few years later at 14 to 16, and in 1820 cadets were obliged to leave at the age of 20 or after having spent five years at the academy. In 1815 the rank of under officer (selected from cadets of the senior term) was instituted. In 1859 the east and west wings, gymnasium and racquet courts were built.
The honour roll of the cadets includes Gen. Gordon (1852), the duke of Connaught (1867), Lord Kitchener (1868), and the prince Imperial (1872). At the R.M.A. cadets are trained for commissions in the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and Royal Corps of Signals. A few vacancies are reserved for specially selected n.c.o.'s recommended for commissions, for nominations by the New Zealand Government and for selected Egyptian, Siamese and 'Iraqi cadets. The course consists of three terms, of which there are two per year. (Feb. 1st to mid July, and from Sept. 1st to Christmas.) Cadets enter each term in batches of 75 to 85 at the age of 18 to 19.
The army entrance examination is conducted by the Civil Service Commission. With the exception of certain candidates nominated by the Army Council, candidates are required to possess a school certificate before being permitted to sit for the examination. The cadets are organized in four half companies on
the lines of an infantry battalion, and cadets of the senior term act as non-commissioned officers. The staff of the academy con sists of a commandant, chief instructors and company officers for each half company (four), and a number of civilian instructors. These latter are especially responsible for instruction in non military subjects, viz., imperial and foreign affairs, mathematics, science, languages. The military part of the course includes conduct of war, strategy, tactics and organization—illustrated from mili tary history—map reading, military law, drill, riding and physical training. At the end of the .course commissions are allotted in the three branches of the service according to existing vacancies —choice of corps being given to those high up in the order of passing out. The normal fee is 11 oo a term and in addition cer tain charges are made for uniform, books, etc. The sons of officers of H.M. forces are, subject to certain conditions, ad mitted at a reduced normal rate of £60 a term. A limited number of cadets are admitted at still further reduced rates on account of pecuniary need at the discretion of the Army Council A certain number of scholarships are available for cadets on entering the academy (awarded on results of army entrance examination) and other scholarships are available for cadets during their course, and for young officers during the first five years of their service. The conditions of admission, fees and the syllabus of the army en trance examination are subject to alteration at any time by the War Office, from which Office all further information should be sought. (J. V. D.) WOOLWORTH, FRANK WINFIELD American merchant, was born near Rodman (N.Y.), April 13, 1852. In 1879 he opened in Utica (N.Y.) his first "five cent" store, which was a failure. Later in the same year he established a "five and ten cent" store in Lancaster (Pa.), followed by another in Harrisburg. When the F. W. Woolworth Co. was incorporated in New York in Dec. 1911 he became president. In 1912 the Woolworth building in New York city was completed from the designs of Cass Gilbert. It is 792ft. high, has 57 storeys, and, excepting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, was the tallest building in the world at the time. He died at Glen Cove (L.I.), April 8, 1919, leaving an estate appraised at $2 7,000,000.