PROMOTION, in the Army and NAVY. The efficiency of any body of men depends upon the energy of the individuals composing it; the root of that energy is emulation, and emulation can only be secured by maintaining a proper current of promotion. The efficiency of a service is thus dependent on the system of promotion adopted; and so important, consequently, does promotion become, that in the present article it is pur posed to glance at the rules observed in the principal armies of the continent before describing the system which obtains in the British service.
In the army of .F ranee it is every common saying that every conscript has a mar shal's bdton in his knapsack. Speaking of the times of the revolutionary war, this was doubtless true for battalions chose their chief officers from their own ranks--a conscript of one year often a lieut.col. the next, and perhaps a brig.gen. the following. In the quieter times of recent years, however, progress is slower; and, although promotion is open to all, and a considerable proportion of the officers do rise from the ranks, yet it is very rarely indeed that an officer who has so risen ever attains a higher grade than that of captain. Junior commissions are—if the rule of the service were strictly followed— given, one-third to men from the ranks, one-third to cadets from the schools, and one-third by government patrOnage. In practice it appears that in the artillery and engineers two-thirds of the first commissions are given tq pupils the Polytechnique, and the remainder to men from the ranks; while in the line two-thirds of the officers rise from the ranks, and one-third come from the military school of St. Cyr. Before officers can he promoted certain service in each rank is required, viz., as 2dlieutenant, two years; as lieutenant, two years; as captain, four years; as major, three years; and as lieutenant colonel, two years. These periods are, however, curtailed in time of war. Promotion takes place in the regiment up to the rank of captain, two-thirds by seniority, and one third by selection. From captain to major (chef d'eseadron ou de bataillon), promotion is
divided equally between seniority and selection; while to all higher ranks it falls exclu sively to selection. The selection is made on reports by the, inspectors-general of the several arms—their reports being founded on personal observation, and the testimony of senior regimental officers. To maintain rapidity of promotion there is a fixed age at which officers must retire—viz., lieutenant-general, 65; major-general, 62; colonel, CO; lieutenant-colonel, 58; major, 56; captain, 53; and lieutenant, 52. These ages do not prevent the officers of a regiment from being the opposite of youthful.
In Austria all officers are at first cadets; but a large proportion of these cadets are nominated from men in the ranks by their comrades. Promotion goes by seniority, and in the regiment, with occasional selection from other regiments.
The organization and officering of the German army are both peculiar. Every German subject, of whatever rank, is bound to serve from the age of 20 to 25; but in practice this service is reduced to a year in the case of professional men. Every officer must serve in the ranks, hut not necessarily for more than a day. Young gentlemen intended for officers enter the ranks as aspiranten. They do duty as common soldiers for from six to nine months, and pass two examinations. Afterward they remain nine months at a division school, or twelve months at an artillery and engineer school. They then become eligible for appointment as officers when vacancies occur. which, however, they cannot obtain unless recommended by the officers of their respective regiments. Two-thirds of the first commissions are given to these aspiranten, and one-third to pupils from the cadet schools In the Italian army, one-third of the sub-lieutenants are promoted from the ranks. Of subsequent promotion, two-thirds go by seniority, and one-third by selection.