Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-09-20
PROVISIONS FOR THE RETIREMENT OF OLD
OFFICERS IN THE BRITISH NAVY.

I PROVISIONS FOR THE RETIREMENT OF OLD
| OFFICERS IN THE BRITISH NAVY.
k-
| The British Parliament has voted money for the
purpose Of providing retirement to three hundred
captains of the Royal Navy, who shall be above
the age of fiiiy-fve in some instances above the
age Of fifty years. The object OF this measure q
not only TO provide comfortable means Of subsist-
ence for the declining years of three hundred gal
liant men who may choose to retire from active SER
vice, but also to bring the younger officers Of the
navy within the reach of promotion.
j The following extract from the Earl Of HADDING-
Tos's estimate to Parliament gives the details OF
| this measure:
| AuamALrr, JuLr Is, ls45.
The attention of the Admiralty has not now been called
for the first time The growing nefcency OF the admirals
list arising from the advanced age Of the officers filling the
highest rank the service This evil necessarily increas-
ing from year year. has created great anxeiy suggestions
have been made from time to time with the view Of provd
ing eecua remedy and have been successfully rejected
because examination it found that they did not meet
EFFICIENCY Of the The object Of these proposals has
been TO bring officers still in possession Of health and vigor
to the flag by providing for the honorable retirement
Of those at the head of the captains list, and thus opening
the succession to the highest rank TO younger
For this purpose proposals have been made at different times
for the retirement of 100 and of $50 captains but
found that the number Of officers of that rank who had at
tanned advanced age great that the retirement pro-
posed would have left matters much they before, and
that the succession to the flag would have still deyolved upon
men as old, or nearly those occupying that rank
The total number Of captains the list Is ia: Of
these 376 above SIS years of age among whom SO
above TO- and 205 above co. III between So and co.
and 1873 between SO and 55 and only under the age of rs
are to be found Of a seniority higher than 1927.
The retirement of 100 captains from the top of the list
would remove officers averaging 81 years Of to bring up
others averaging 81.
If even 200 retired the average age Of those adyanc
ed to the top of the list would be either Of such schemes
therefore, would leave the evil untouched. &ess
This short statement is decisive to the impocy Of
ing 100 or 200 officers with the view Of bringing the
flag within the reach of Junior class Of men,
Former suggestions, moreover went merely to the retire
ment of the number proposed and to the maintenance of
retired list of 100 old captains to be recruited from the ekc
tive list in death vacancies They left all the full
operaton which, by overlooking the captains list have created
the existing EVIL. I.
There is however, conceivable method, consistent with
the practice of the scrvce of dsencumbeng the list Of
captains Of the old and nirm members bring eff
cient their flag, but by resorng to the principle Of
retirement and is necessary to make that retirement
large to prove really effective accompanying the project
with other provisions calculated to the growth of sm
lar evils hereafter In the conviction that any scheme of
tremen, to be eilectua should be offered to 300 officers it
proposed that there should be retired list Of 800
tains Of SIS years Of age and upwards with increased half
pay power being given the Admiralty to allow inrm Off
GERS Of so TO retire. the number required Of the age of IS
should not be found willing do and that the officers
firing should be placed separate list between the flag of
fcers' and captains list
l0O and be hereafter permanently maintained atthat number
That general promotions should longer be resorted
the of recruiting the list of admras but be replaced
by system Of continuous promotion, asdeath vacancies arise
on that lists and general promotions be reserved for the cee
braton of important national events.
That the gofcers list should be limited TO $50, and the
captains list AGO. to be retained those numbers by pro-
motion TO every vacancy This limitation is intended to be
permanently applied to stale Of peace but is impossible
to say what the exgcncies Of may require.
Under the arrangement 100 senior captains who retire
will receive per day with pension Of al2 per
to their widows; $50 Of the seniority who retire will
receive Iss per day. and their widows clio per so
Of the in seniority will receive l6s per day. and their
widows ITO per The increased pay from Ids. 3d.,
RS 3d. and los 3D. per day TO the above rates. to
mcnce the st of October next should sufficient number
Of officers have prior that day, expressed their desire
avail themselves of this arrangement
The Earl Of HADDINoToN thus continues his
communication to Parliament:
It's believed that the terms which this retirement is Of
fered consistent with that due regard to economy which
should animate every public department in the consideration
OF all questions involving expenditure Of public money
and at the time sufficiently liberal induce the officers
to whom they offered to accept them.
Such is the plan of retirement which, after full consider
aton Of all difficulties, has met the appreciation of the Adj
uiraty, and is BY that department recommended 10 the
favorable consideration Of the Government and Parliament
quite impossible calculate with certainty its
cess founded is upon he principle Of voluntary retire
ment but promises to be effective plan BE-
made from which the principle Of compulsory retirement
necessarily excluded
Its superiority to former proposals consists in the great
Der it withdraws from the effective list and the precautions
recommends in order prevent the Of
difficulty and stagnaton hereafter similar to that which now
exists its Ultimate adoption however, be dependant
the reception which the officers interested may give the plan
too obvious require explanation that unless the
Der required Tor nearly SOY should accept the offer made
them, very little good would be effected, and the country
would be put to heavy charge for increased dead weight
without deriving any corresponding benefit
only TO refer to what has been said Of the
former proposals. and the for rejecting Them arising
from the state Of the captains list show that by no retire
ment less extensive than that proposed hope
class Of advanced to the head Of the captains list who
from their time Of life, likely to be fully qualified for the
active duties Of service in the highest ranks Of the profession
Unless, therefore, from the captains list
the number proposed by voluntary retirement would
not be advisable to persevee with the plan in that case
it will be the duty Of the Government to consider what ute
ror measures be necessary in order provide eff
fcent list Of flag officers.
THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.
IF L. -