All the Central Schools were well established and in thorough working order when I left Switzerland in May, 1918. Both instructors and men showed great interest in the work, and were ably supervised by Major Charley and Lieut. Wallis—the latter since promoted to Captain—and I had every reason to be satisfied with the results.
In August, 1918, it was decided to close down the Meiringen and Seebourg Centres, and concentrate the classes at Vevey, in the workshops previously occupied by French Interned. These premises were taken over by the "B.R.C.S.," London, with their machines, tools, fittings, etc., and the transfer was made in September and October. These workshops, known as "B.I.T.S." (British Interned Technical School), were closed on November 25, in anticipation of the repatriation of December 6, 1918, when British Interned in Switzerland left the country.
The following figures have lately reached me, giving in detail the final results achieved under the scheme of technical training:—
| Average number of men in training from December, 1917, to December, 1918 | 172 | |
| Total number of men trained | 443 | |
| Average period of training | 5·35 | months. |
| Total cost of undertaking | 173,534·87 | francs. |
| Average expenditure per man for 443 men | 391·72 | francs. |
The total of frs. 173,534·87 includes the "B.R.C.S.," London, outlay, the "Auto-Car" outlay, and running expenses of the Motor School at Vevey, and the expenses of installation of "B.I.T.S." at Vevey (about frs. 33,000). The average cost of training would have been considerably higher had it not been for the valuable assistance rendered by Swiss firms in the equipment of the workshops. The installation of the "B.I.T.S.," for instance, was comparatively inexpensive, owing to the generosity of Messrs. Nestlé and the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, who put in all the electric light and extra heating free of cost.
The figures given above appear to me somewhat disappointing, as they fall short of our original intention, which was to provide technical instruction for 300 men at a time. That figure was never reached, owing to an impression, held in common by the men, that regular work might militate against their chances of repatriation. Many of them were, therefore, loth to engage themselves for continuous instruction, and though the impression was entirely erroneous, it was none the less difficult of eradication, and rendered the men shy of the schools.
There is no doubt, I believe, that many of the men were, temperamentally, incapable of making the best of their opportunities. This was more especially the case with soldiers of the Regular Army, who were not immediately concerned as to their status in civil life after the war. I cannot avoid the conclusion that the fault lies in no small degree in a system which makes no provision for the technical instruction of the soldier whilst still serving in the ranks, and in this connection an incident of my cadet days at Sandhurst in 1874-75 comes to mind. We cadets were asked to give our views regarding the training of the soldier, and I hazarded the opinion that he should be taught a trade, in order that he might be fitted to take his place in civil life on discharge. This view met with no encouragement, and I was informed that "financial considerations alone would prevent the realization of any such quixotic ideal."
Under the stress of war, the Ministry of Pensions and the "B.R.C.S.," London, have, in initiating a system of training in Switzerland, Holland, and at home, done much to remedy the faults of the past, and have awakened in the public a sense of their obligation towards the man who is ready to give some of the best years of his life to the service of the country. I have little doubt that it will be found necessary in the future to give every soldier a thorough technical training during the years of his military service, in order that he may without delay take his place in the economic life of the country when the term of his military service expires.