The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-10-06
SAMPSON DID WE'LL.
Administrator Is Satisfied with
the Admiral's Work.
A Member OF the Cabinet Talks rBee-
~ of the Santiago Campaign
-Unjust system of Naval
Rewards.
Especial Washington Letter. ]

Strange ii is that our government
cannot do justice to worthy officers of
the navy without doing injustice TO
other officers, equally worthy, who
have had no opportunity to achieve
distinction and renown.
Under existing laws and regulations
our naval officers cannot be promoted
in rank for heroic services without in
jury to other officers who have done
no wrong, but who have faithfully per-
formed their duties in every respect.
The naval officers hold their relative
ranks by seniority of commission. For
example, Jones, Brown and Smith are
captains in the navy, each OF them
commanding a battleship. Suppose
Jones was commissioned captain jan
uary 1, Brown was commissioned cap
tain January 2, and Smith was com
missioned captain January 3.
Thus, on the naval list, they stand
as number first, second and third in
the list of captains. They are all of
equal rank; but Jones having been
commissioned first stands numbtr one.
Consequently, when there occurs va
cancy in the ranks of commodore, Capt.
Jones will be made a commodore. Then
Brown will stand number one on the
list of captains, and will be the next
man to receive Advancement TO the
rank of commodore, If he lives long
enough. OF course, there are many
captains, tenant-commanders, lieu
tenants, ensigns, etc.
Now, suppose Capt. Rice, who may
stand number four on the list of cap
tains, commands n ship in battle and
wins a great victory. The only way
the navy department can reward him
is by advancing him one number, or
more, on the list of captains in the
navy. Suppose the navy department
honors him by advancing him four
numbers on the list Of captains. That
would place him above Jones, who does
no wrong, and has had no opportunity
| to win victory. Then. when a com
modore is to be appointed, it will be
Rice instead of Jones who gets the ad-
vancement.
This is palpably unfair, and our
| government should certainly find some
method by which it may be just to our
naval heroes, by comforting upon them
well merited honors, without dealing
injustice to other equally brave and
patriotic men. Every naval officer
who has been advanced in numbers on
the naval list gains his new honors al
the expense of his associates, anS il
operates with great injustice to many
A pointed instance of this injustice
that is visited upon some of our naval
heroes in order to give proper honors
to others is exhibited in the case OF
the captains of Admiral Dewey's feet
BY the advancement of the officers oi
| Admiral SIMPSONS fleet that destroyed
| Cervera's squadron two of Admira
Dewey's captains find themselves two
numbers lower on the naval list that
they were before, and two others ar,
each reduced one number on the list
Another illustration of unjust effect.
of naval promotions by numbers wal
given in the case of Capt. Clark. who's,
cruise of the Oregon from San Fran
cisco to Key West was altogether tn,
most memorable of naval history, anC
yet he went into action at Santiago
and performed prodigies in heroic re
suits in the naval battle when he wa.
two numbers lower than when he sailei
from San Francisco. He has since beer
advanced, but his advance of six mum
bers leaves him a net advancement o.
only four.
No one can complain of the honor
conferred upon the officers of Admira
SIMPSONS fleet, excepting only tn,
questionable advancement of Admira
Sampson himself. All the others fair
ly won the distinction that has beer
awarded them, but il must be remem
bered that these advancement, strik,
with fearful injustice upon all the
other officers of the navy. most of whom