Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-02-25
THE BRITISH "MIDDY."
An English Comparison between Him
and His American COmpccrs.


Admiral Sir Vescy Hamilton pub
lished not long ago an interesting con-
versation which he had with an Amer
lean admiral, wherein the latter spoke
with the warmest admiration of the
manner in which he saw our young
midshipmen handling their boats and
keeping their men in order, and then
drew comparisons between them and
his own "fne gentlemen" most un-
flattering to the latter. His young
gentlemen, he said, knew how it ought
to be done, but ours knew how to do it.
The difference is great. The British
midshipman is brought up in his pro-
fession, and when he finds himself sud
denly in tight place he knows what
TO do instinctively without waiting to
reason about it; he does the right thing
at once; and as rapidity of action is
one of the most important factors of
success in nautical matters, he general
ly gets out of his tight place with credit
to himself and his profession. Thus he
gains confidence at every step, and pre-
pares himself for more important COM
mands. On what grounds, then, Of
logic or of common sense, are we about
to alter a system which has produced
such excellent practical results?
1t is only fair, however, to see what
can be said on the other side of the
question, and thus we would frankly
acknowledge that our naval officers are
the worst educated in Europe, taking
the word education" in the sense in
which it is generally used. 1t is only
quite natural and reasonable that they
should be so, for reasons which we have
already sufficiently indicated. For our
part we do not think they are by any
means such utter ignoramuses as they
are sometimes supposed to be, and por-
trayed as being by some self-copSti-
tuted critics.
For instance, a well-known civilian
writer on naval subjects, masquerad-
ing under the title of "Nauticus," pub
hshed lately violent diatribe on the
gross and deplorable ignorance of Brit
ish naval officers. lie described them as
being altogether behind the times; as
comparing most unfavorably in point
of general knowledge with the officers
OF all European nations, as well as with
those of the United States. They were
held up to scorn for not being men
of the world,' and for not being able
to "shine in society,"" in consequence of
their faulty education; and it was fur
ther stated that they were not sound
scientific officers. 1t is quite possible
that all three accusations might be true
the third modifed-and yet that ours
might be the best naval officers in the
world. We say the third modified, as it
depends good deal upon what we un-
derstand by a sound scientific officer.
1t is probable-nay, almost certain
that, so far as abstract science is con-
oerned, our naval officers are surpassed
by those of most other countries, and
certainly by those of France and Ger
many; but when it comes to the prac-
tical application of such scientific or
other knowledge as the officers of the
different nationaities possess, it has
been proved a hundred times over that
our officers are ahead of alt Ten thou
sand-horse power which cannot be ap'
Piled is not so good for propulsive pur-
poses as 5,OO0-horse power which can
be applied d.-Blackwood's Magazine.