New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-27
PROMOTIONS IN THE NAVY.
SOME OFFICERS DISSATISFIED WITH
ADVANCEMENT METHODS
CRITICISM OF THE SYSTEM As UNJUST TO THOSE
OF LOWER RANK
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TpInrxrl


OF LOWER RANK
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRInUyEl
Washington. Aug 2f-Dissatsfac,ion with
the "leap-froc' method Of rewarding officers
for gaantry ir the war with Spain has been
rapidly growing in the last few davs and prac-
tical unanimity exists among naval officers
in favor OF such radical notifications in the law
as will provi6e suitable and Just recognition for
meritorious services Most Of the officers who
have been recently promoted for conduct in the
war are among the most active opponents of the
system which has permitted their advarcement
at the expense Of brother officers aud were it
possible fer them 10 decline the trivial honor
without losing their commissions under the
peculiar shortcomings ot legislation. they would
do The only officer whosc promotion has
not materially injured his colleagues is Admiral
Dewey. VINO, for the destruction Of an entire
Spanish fleet secured two numbers valued at
less than $500 In every other instance the
advancement ot officers was wholly at the *
pense Of others. who We're in most cases entitled
to more consideration than they got
To persons unfamiliar with The Navy It would
appear that nothing could be fairer than that
officers who have specially distinguished them
selves should be horored by promotion. and
nearly every one has doubtless supposed that
this promotion was reward which cost the
Government something and did not affect other
deserving officers. As a matter ~ fact. the re-
wards which have been made hy advancing off-
GERS certain number OF files cost the Govern
ment nothing at all. hut are entirely at the
pense OF brother officers. many Of whom have
rendered exactly the same service. but were
unfortunate in not witnessing tho big fgh, al
Santiago. or some other action whore oppor-
tunitiea were afforded f1r conspicuous gaantry.
The case is very much Ike that " the famous
patriotism of Artcmus Ward. who willing
10 sacrifice MI his wifes relations for the benefit
of the country. The Advancement of naval ON
GERS under existing law has never cost the
Government penny. but officers who arc passed
over are involved IN considerable amount Of
pecuniary loss
4 PUNISHMFNT TO OTHERS
There IS another feature or the case which
has probably not been considered hy those out
side 81 the service. II has been the practic' for
some time. when an officer has committed
serious offence against naval regulations or good
morals for the court martial which tries him
to sentence him - the loss ~ a certain number
- nles The result 70 the officers who have
been passed over by tho recent promotions is
exactly the same as II they had been guilty II
some heinous offence and had been punished
by loss ~ numbers. In this connection. It is
,o,o,,o ,ho, ,h, ro,.o, a.,.b,-,,t.. .,o,,so,,.os
o.bo r,od. tho ,,o,,o,iors ,,eri,ote1 tho FAC,
TIM, ,h,s ,oduc,,o, c, ,~ ,o..c- ,,b.n no has
NOT committed an offence is eynressly forbidden
by the Revised Siatuics
The ahsurliiy - this method NJ recognizing
gallantry is clearly shown In the case ~ Cap
tain y Mayo DYER - the cruiser baltimore,
who. after Admiral Dewey had destroyed tho
snantsh eco, yyas ordered 10 silence fh. shore
batteries which he accommodated IN tho face Of
greater resistance than anv American force
had encountered A. Manila Raw on Nav Hc
received seven numbers I'm common With the
| other commanding officers ~ tho Aslntc squad
ron but since that time three captains on the
Atlantic sto,lon ha,o hoon htnned over him,
FOR participation I'm engagenonfs and CAPTAIN
over is left with less rr,rooflon than any other
officer IN Admiral Dcucv's squaIron
,.....,, ,.. ....-....-.. -. $500. ...
''' -" ''
Among IN" other Instances of the injustice
~ IN" system is that ~ captain Charles . NeiH.
who during the war has been m" chiei Of ord
nance and who has contributed perhaps as
mnch as any slnsl" man - IN" splendid con
dillon ~ the .Arlorican vessels and their "rec-
tive armament. Although one ~ the earliest
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