The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-17
nov OTHER NATIONS PROMOTE.
The Systems OF the Engiish, Preach. Aus
trian, italian, and German Nsvies In
Relation to Seniority and Selection.


The System. or the Engiish. Preach. Aus.
triaa, italian, and German Nsvies In
Relation to Seniority and Selection.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 1G.-While tho proposals
OF the Phythian stagnation Board are exciting
30 much discussion in our navy. interest must
be felt In the investigations made by Lieut..
Fechteler OF the systems OF promotion In vogue
In the leading European countries. Although
the differences In organization and In other
particulars will prevent any OF them from
being model for our own navy. yet the prin-
ciples on which they are based may be useful
in the way Of suggestion.
Lieut.. Mentz had pointed out In q previous
discussion OF the subject for the ONCE OF
Naval Intelligence that "the fact Is forcbly
presented that foreign governments recognize
that an officer beyond a certain age for GER
tain duties. ceases 10 be of the greatest use-
fulness. and systems are adopted by which
officers are advanced to positions Of response
bility before the encroachments OF age have
undermined their Abilities" This is one Of
the leading principles in the new plan pro-
posed by the Phythnn Board. The constant
liability OF European governments TO war re-
Quires that the personnel OF their navies should
be kept up to the highest point Of efficiency
for immediate service. Hence the principle OF
reward and the allied principle of seniority
are not as much respected as that Of fitness
for duty or selection for efficiency. Still. in all
the countries OF Europe. except Germany. pro-
motion Is both by seniority ami by selection.
In Germany there Is no fixed age for retire
ment In grades. but the reports Of seniors show
when an officer las sed the age OF efficiency
In the German service the average age Of
reaching the grade OF captain is forty-tw and
that OF becoming rear admiral IL about ffty
necessary OF
navy. as such. is only about - years old, and
the steady increases of the personnel with tho
additions OF new ships cause rate OF promo
ton which is not guide for services longer
established.
commander. Beginning with England. the
discussion of promotion is going on rs yig-
orously there a. in our own country. Midship-
men and sub-lteutenants are on probation.
their fate depending On examinations, but
tenants are promoted to be- commanders and
commanders to be captains by selection only:
but above the latter grade PROMOTIONS are by
It is clear that some OF the English officers are
and in some cases with reason. since letters
from some lieutenants show that - II only they
at the Ss 6sr h TO se W
met" The Chief diileulty Is With With the lien,
tenants. The basis Of the trouble. as it has
which human ingenuity can devise will You be
able 70 PASS list Of 1,oo4 lieptenants into
ss ss a! y tSs r rs" liz nSSi
diminntion Of numbers in the higher grades
lei such as in time 81 peace. with
the lower grade from not REACHING the higher
until well along in years. The Admiralty Or
and makes Selections e instead Of going Strictly
by seniority. in order TO choose the best men
a a. 81 Tor ITS nnrPHse at any sSeE m9ment
that assertions OF Injustice or favoritism
should be made. but these generally take the
ompetent. but that others We're equally COM
petent, and having performed LONGER service
should not have been passed over. We see.
tion rs we'll as seniority prevails. the cry Of
stagnation continues to be raised with call
for earlier retirenients.
III France lust about a year ago the Al
miralty Council was abolished because. while
selection Is carried out in that country. this
the most hagraut, favoritism and nepotism:
No officer says Lieut.. Feclteler. who had
among the higher officers was considered 10
stand any chance Of being promoted"
BSsr Of Gassitiration for ,promSotIo.pns was
to select at least officers from the upper parts
Of the grades. In France the promotions from
tenants. One-half by selection: from ensigns.
one; bird by, selection. Thus the two greatest
nHvies In the world have radically different
principles OF promotion:
England begins with absolute. unrestricted selection.
and continues III. sy.tem 10 the grade OF captain.
France begin. with partial sslec:ion then gradually
err 10 captain lis ali selection, hui with resITIstOns
and then from captain up selection absolute and unre-
. s;S d..
niands radical change III the systems.
ltaly's system is much like the French. Pro-
motion to the grade Of snb-lieutenant is by
tenant in time Of peace is 'two.thirds by
seniorit and one-third by selection; in time OF
war half by seniority and half by selection.
Promotion TO the grade OF lieutennnt-com-
mander In time OF peare Is half by seniority
and hall BY selection: in time Of war all by
by selection. both in peace and war. The ex,
ceptions to these rules are in eases Of signal
and Tnsn Ss IN
been in force since 1858 in the Sandman and
Italian nayies.
ton is practically by seniority alone. although.
theoretically 1t may be by selection. Promo
tiop out Of turn i really an imperial favor
lege. Still. promotions from captain up are
not governed 10y seniority. In Austria there
of1cer next in order or ut the top Of the list 10
Judged by his record. Promotions are made
n %o wia thg dea
Indeed. the system Of minute qualification lists
is Xery, striking. and keeps the government
every ofhcer OF merit or ambition has the sat
Wee he does 10 viii Certainly be- entered to lis
credit and will come to the knowledge OF head
quarters in due time.
1t would to DO almost Impossible that with such
system an unworthy officer cond be promoted. aud.
matter Of fact the Austrian Officers are an ahie
high degree OF esprit de corps.
There 10 regular retiring age Int any ohicer after
forty service claim retirement In computing
these forty years war service counts ~ double time
All Officers who have ten years service or over haze
right retirement FOR disability. ~ also have those
who have reached sixty years OF aye this being vOn
tary and nor compulsory.
TO the German system reference has already
been made. Although promotion there is
strictly 10y seniority. and there Is no forced
officers are Young. This is partly duo 10 The
rigid system Of dropping, the incompetent Or
to the fact that the service as u whole is so
young. But in all the systems here spoken Of
the common feature Is that promotion depends
on the result Of an examination Of IN officers
entire previous career.