The San Francisco call., 1895-10-17
REFORM IN THE NAVY.

Congress at its next session will be called
upon to deal with subject of great i'm
portance to the navy and of no small con-
Germ to the country. The present Secre-
tary of the Navy and three of his imme-
date predecessors, as we'll as President
Cleveland, have shown in official messages
the necessity for such legislation. To-day
there is congestion above the grade of lieu
tenant in the navy, and if Congress fails to
relieve it the line officer will not reach the
command rank OF captain until he is So
years of age.
The causes of the congestion are plainly
set forth in the report of Congressional
committee. A few years before the war
the line was depleted. During the war
period, from 1860 TO 1866, large accessions
were made to the navy. Young men were
rapidly advanced to high rank and the
number annually graduated from the
academy was not diminished. Since then
prom otions from the line have been slow
and getting slower. In regard to promo
ton the service is at a standstill. A cap
tain should be able to reach the grade of
rear-admiral by the time he attalns the age
of 81 years, SO that the Government could
obtain some service from him in that
grade. Under present circumstances it
often happens that an officer goes upon
the retired list as soon as he is promoted
to the grade of rear-admiral, having at
tanned the age of 50 years.
There is no product of human ingenuity
more complicated than a modern battle
ship and no officer should be intrusted
with the command of such vessel whose
brain and nerves have not been so trained
as TO enable him to act in an emergency
with promptness and decision. The sue
cess in battle of such a ship depends
largely upon one man. 1t is a question
whether thirty years service in a
subordinate position without the RESPONSE
bility of command does not tend to dimin-
ish an officers confidence IN his own ability
TO direct affairs. The habit OF looking to
superior for advice and direction in emer-
gency becomes fixed. The officer has been
taught to depend on others. Self-reliance
has vanished with the years of his youth
and the requirements of the service brings
conservatism and impedes action, and of
all qualities in battle the one most impor-
tant is that of immediate decision sus-
tanned by the confidence demanded for
prompt action.
The annals of the American navy, pre-
senting line of illustrious achievement,
show that the victories have been won by
Young officers in command. Perry, Hull.
Decatur, Paul Jones, Farragut and Porter
had won high rank and great renown be-
fore they attained the age of 80. With few
exceptions all of the great battles of land
and sea OF which history gives authentic
record were won by young commanders.
The new conditions of modern warfare,
on land as well as on the ocean, require
more than ever the quick observation and
alertness of youth; hence it should be the
purpose of the Government to lntrust men
under the age of 80 with the responsibility
of command.
The bill introduced at the last session of
Congress, and the one which so thoroughly
engaged the attention of the Congressional
committee and board of naval officers,
proposes to establish a reserve list to
which officers may be assigned to agreea BILE
duty with just compensation before they
attain the age for retirement Objection
has been presented to the effect that as
signment to the reserve list would work
injustice to young officers who served with
honorable distinction in the late war The
bill, however, has been so revised that
officers who entered the navy during the
war period are not touched by its pro-
visions.
section of the bill contains provision
for the promotion of enlisted men to COM
missioned rank and should result in giving
| impetus to honest effort on the part OF en-