§ SIR RICHARD PAGET (Somerset, Wells)I bag to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is a fact that, though officers after entering the Staff College are permitted to study and pass out in Turkish, no provision is made for award of marks in Turkish at the entrance examination of the College; and whether, in view of the importance of encouraging the study of a wider range of modern languages, he will consider the advisability of placing Turkish, on the same footing as that now occupied by Hindustani and Russian in the entrance examinations of the Staff College?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE, Lincoln, Horncastle)No provision is made at the Staff College either for the study of Turkish or for passing out in that language. The object of the College is primarily the advancement of knowledge of specific military science rather than of languages. Great importance is, however, attached to the knowledge of languages, and rewards of considerable value are offered to officers passing in them, but not through the Staff College.
In reply to a further question by Sir R. PAGET,
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid he should be glad to have the study of the Turkish language placed on the same footing in regard to War Office appointments as Hindustani and Russian.