The Story of the "Britannia" / The training ship for naval cadets. With some account of previous methods of naval education, and of the new scheme of 1903.

by Edward Phillips Statham

With his diagram—measuring nearly six feet in length—spread out beside him, he embarks upon an elaborate and convincing vindication of his beloved Britannia—for this is what it amounts to—and there is no getting away from his figures. Without reproducing the tables, which are rather numerous and complex, it is interesting to note that the following facts are clearly established:—

Left the Service as Cadets or Midshipmen.

1st class	7·8 per cent.
2nd class	14·3 per cent.
3rd class	27·4 per cent.

Attained the Rank of Sub-Lieutenant.

1st class	88·1 per cent.
2nd class	82·7 per cent.
3rd class	69·6 per cent.

Passed Sub-Lieutenant’s Examination at the Proper Time (all Classes).

Period from 1858 to 1863	61·9 per cent.
Period from 1864 to 1868	70·3 per cent.

Selected Examples.

	Passed at the proper time.	Obtained 1st class at College.	Promoted for passing examination.
First four of 1st class	88·1 per cent.	26·2 per cent.	15·1 per cent.
First four of 2nd class	74·4 per cent.	4·2 per cent.	1·9 per cent.
Last four of 2nd class	56·4 per cent.	0·0 per cent.	0·0 per cent.
Last four of 3rd class	44·7 per cent.	0·0 per cent.	0·0 per cent.

Obtained First Class on Passing for Sub-Lieutenant.