The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-10
SEATTLE. THURSDAY, MAY 10.
Ages of Naval Officers.

ton BILL the senate decided TO strike out
the provision that graduates of the
naval academy should receive their
commissions as ensigns at the expira-
ton of their four years course of study,
and restored the old provision, requiring
that two years sea service should pre-
oeed the issuance Of commission. The
argument advanced was that these off,
GERS are too young and green. after
four years OF professional training, to
be entrusted with the performance of
the duties of a subordinate officer. 1t
should be remembered that the average
age Of the naval cadets, after complet-
ing their four years term at the naval
academy. is n years. II not trifie
higher. and that these young men have
been kept at the hardest kind of work
in learning the details of their profess
sion, accompanied by such rigid profess
sional examinations that OF all OF those
appointed to the navy, mostly through
competitive sxsminations originally. less
than one-quarter on an average ever
succeed In winning commissions.
The fact OF the case is that the per-
sonnsi OF the navy 10 in far more dan
ger of dstsriorating through the pres
ence Of old men in subordinate posi-
lions than from any prospect of author
ity and command being conferred too
youns. Every man on the list OF cap
tains. and ths majority OF those on the
list of commanders. is a veteran OF the
civil war. There are men by the dozens
who have seen upwards of thirty years
service In the navy and for whom COM
mand rank IL still in the distant future.
Men approaching, and in some In
stances past. fifty are doing duty as
watch and division officers. have never
held an Independent command. and
have never been called upon to act In
any capacity upon their own initiative
or responsibility.
Some years service in a subordinate
capacity is necessary TO acquire full
knowledge OF professional duties: but to
remain until late middle age I'm such
position. is certainly a poor preparation
for the assumption Of the great respon-
slbnlues which deyolve upon com
mandlng officer The position of cap
tain OF a ship. in the navy or in private
employ. IL unique In the respect that
from the captain every order beyond
those of the merest necessary routine.
snust and docs originate. and subord-
mate officers are called upon In no In
stance TO assume responsibility. or 70
initiate action OF any kind. Under long
continued service as a subordinate. the
precise qualities which are pre- eminent
ly necessary for a commanding officer
are apt 10 decay for want Of use,
IL Is "a notable fact that nearly sill
the great naval commanders have been
men who were intrusied with command
at a comparatively early age. In the
American navy, dehh raul Jones was
hut IS when. in the Bon Homne Rich
ard. ne fought the Scraps and Countess
Of soarsborough. Hull had his tirst com
maad az ~. and was sim under 20
when he commanded the Constitution
IN the war Of 1919, and gave one of the
finest exhibitions Of skill daring and
seamanship OF which any navy has a
record. Decatur had his nrst command
at IS. and was under IS when he per-
formed his feat OF burning the phila-
delphla In the harbor OF TripolL He
was but IS when he fought his action
with the Macedonian. Stewart was oui
year Older than Decatur, and was
scarcely IS at the time OF the iight with
the Cyane and Levant. upon which his
reputation as a naval Office chiefly
rests. Perry was IS when he built
equipped and fought his little heet in
Lake Erie and contributed one OF the