The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-11
Rank In the
Army and Navy.


tary rank are known to most well in.
formed people. They are aware that q
colonel commands a regiment: a briga-
dier general, several regiments. or q
brigade; a major general. several bril-
gades, OF a division: lieutenant gem
eral. several divisions. or q corps. and =
general. strictly speakIr.,. an army.
though the United States has had many
armies. but only a few fun generals.
Naval rank is not SO generally under-
stood by the majority of people though
the main principle is the same. 1t Will
be OF considerable assistance TO remen,-
Der that military and naval rank corrs-
spends in this way:
Admiral (when the Office is created)
to general.
Vice admiral (when the ONCE is cre.
ated) to lieutenant general.
Rear admiral to major general.
Commodore to brigadier generel.
Captain to colonel.
Commander to lieutenant colonel.
Lieutenant commander to major.
Lieutenant TO captain.
Lieutenant. junior grade. to first lieu-
tenant
Ensign to second lieutenant.
Considering only the two highest
grades now actually held. the number
or officers in each since 1882 until Dew
ey's promotion for Ills victory at Manila
has been six rear admiraIs and ten
commodores. The present reak admf-
rails In order of seniority are: :.
q Joseph ". Meier commandfhe Pacific
station, retireb Nov. p, 1894 :
Montgomexz ,Slcard. pr9fdet OF the
board OF str&}eky, retires Sc 90 1884
Edmund ~ Matthews, president Of
the examining and retiring board, re-
tires Oct. "A, 1898.
Charles S. Norton, commanding Wash.
ington navy yard. retires Aug. 10, 1898.
Francis M. Bunce, commanding Brook 4
lyn navy yard. retires Dec. rs, 1888.
Ofhcers OF the navy may be retired on
their own application after 40 years.
service and those above the rank Of
lieutenant commander must retire upon
their reaching the age of 81. All ON
GERS are naturally retired at any age for
physical or mental disability. The nav OF
retired naval officers is three-ouarters
OF sea pay of the rank they held at fhe
time of retirement. At sea a rear ad-
miral receives $1,000 year, on shore
duty $1,000 and on leave or waiting
orders $4,000. Commodores are maid
$1,000 less In all three lines OF employ
ment.
Retired officers OF the navy cannot be
assigned to active duty except in time
OF war. and the purpose OF the admin
istration SO far has been not to assirn
retired officers In the army or navy to
Held or sea duty. but to let these posts
OF danger be held by those still on the
active list. OF course such work as the
command OF the mosquito feet along
the coast is excepted. This has been
given to Admiral Erben. who was re-
tired four years ago.
Until the second year OF the civil war
the highest naval rank was that Of
captain. though generally the title Of
commodore was given to flag ofiicer
who commanded a squadron. In 1862
the rank Of rear admiral was created
by congress. and to this grade were ap-
pointed Farragut and three other active
and about dozen retired cap
tains. In 1864, for his capture OF Mobile
and subsequent successes. Farragut was
appointed to the newly created rank OF
vice admiral. and later d. d. Porter and
Stephen c. Rowan were given the same
rank
After the war ended congress went
step further and made the grade of ad-
miral and to this grade promoted Far
ragut and Porter. There was special
provision of the laws creating admirals
and vice admirals which caused the
grades to die with the men holding
them. When Porter and Farragut va
Gated their commissions as vice to ac-
cept the higher Office, II left Rowan the
only holder of the second place, and
upon his death in 1890 the Office lapsed.
Farragut died in 1870. leaving Porter
sole possessor OF the commission Of full
admiral, and upon his death In 1891 both
grades were vacated until congress shall
revive them perhaps for the heroes ~
his war.