The daily union., 1854-02-24

/
service, which seems TO Us TO be and.
mates from capable of making valuable sugges-
lions. commend it the attention OF those for whose
reflection il made.
THOUGHTS FOR THE NAVAL COMMITTEES OF
CONGRESS AND SECRETARY DOBBrN.-PRoMO-
TloN rs. MERCENARY INCENTIVES.
The accounts from Europe become by each packet
more and more alarming; it seems almost inevitable that
general continental 10 grow out of the misun-
deIsiandings between Russia and Turkey. The United
States in that event. will fnd that commerce., spread
it is the whole world, will require to be vigan
y watched and carefully guarded This consideration
alone will naturally lead The statesman and the pao, to
his attention 10 the only description OF force that
afford protection TO that portion OF the property OF
the citizens OF the United States which is afoahe
| navy.
How is IL that with the bes, materials in the world
for the construction OF shlps. with overdowing
ury. and with corps OF officers who for skill. charac-
Ter, and conduct, will compare favoraby with those OF
any other nation, aad the writer oil this has had favora
bic opportunities TO judge of al)-how s IL, say, that,
with such advantages. found. at this moment of
general national strength. and OF threatened peril 10
amount OF national wealth. with one OF ma.
tona deencsaod that, in such circumstances. The most
imporant-weak and almost parayze II is that the
navy has been allowed to lnker the Of 1912
without proper stmulxnis TO its officers and now the
complaint is made that II 10 difkcu get officers parc-
ularv those in the junior grades. 10 lake service
We buid shipswe can with little extra exertion.
procure seamen 10 man thembut each Secretary of the
Navy in succession complains that II 10 difficult 10 get
officers for and TO keep them on, foreign service and
what is the remedy proposed II IL understood that
bill ia TO be reported which contem plates increase the
pay OF ocep at sea, and reduce the pay Of those
leave waiting ordersl How 10 il that the character OF
these brave ~ little understood The only effect
OF such measure would be to drive the young. active
onAl la.vn I,.s,h
and broken down. Like all other Of proper feelings
the officers Of the navy anxious that those dear
them should have least the comforts OF life. The pay
now s scarcely suic,en, for decent support large
number must always. except in time of actoa war. be
ION leave or "wsi,ing orders Deprive them OF de-
cent support under such circumstances and they
seek employment elsewhere.
/, will naturally bs asked, what then. is the remedy
for this sste Of things answer. give your officers
paw sufficient under all circumstances for respectable
support and stimulate Them By appeals TO their noble as
pira,ions for professional advancement THIS s TO be
by increasing the number OF grades 80 as to make
promotion more frequent and establish II rule that
an officer succeeding 10 a death vacancy foreign
stson shall be confirmed his return to the United
Sta,sss IT, fer inrtsnce captain dies in the squadron
on the coast Of Africa the senior commander succeed.
10 his command. and his TO the United States
let him be confirmed captain the senior lieutenant
be made commander, and so through Adopt this sys-
tenn, and service will be sought for professional ad
vsncement. and not for "6lshy ucre;' and il will be
soaght most eagerly the most unhealthy stations. for
"evefy man thinks every man mortal bu himself" Un-
der the present system, ofcer who. foreign
ton, succeeds 10 higher grade by the death Of his
superior, discharges the duty Of that grade under
porary appointment from the commander Of the squad
until his return 10 the United Sta~s, when he goes
down to his old place. and perhaps some who has
avoided the which he sought slips into the
| canoy.
To have efficient military corps Of any arm. you
keep your ofcers under the siimulani Of frequent
promotions, by multiply ing your grades; reward ibefaly