The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-14
PROJECTIONS In THE NAVY.
Chances Of Enlisted Men in Other
Countries to Get Commissions.

Countries to Get Commissions.
While it is not possible now to say what
effect VIII be produced on Congress by the
approval given Saturday by the Navy De-
paTtment to the bill to permit b0atswains
and gunners to obtain commissions it is
significant that tie sentiment in the leg
islative branch of the Government toward
Offering greater incentives to men of abil-
Ity to enter the naval service has deyel-
oped to a marked degree in recent years.
The practice of sending a few bright naval
apprentices TO the Naval Academy has
been discontinued and an enlisted man can
obtain commission only in the grades of
chief boatswain, chief gunner, chief car
penter, chief macbinist. and chief phar-
macist- He can 60 no higher than any of
these grades between which and the war
rant grades there is very little distinction
In the army, however, a noR-commission-
ed officer may obtain 2 second Ieutenant's
commission by passing the required ex-
animation and is eligible to, promotion
thereafter.
When the Naval Personnel bill was IN
der consideration in the last Congress
there was much criticism because no pro-
listed men to obtain commissions The
sentiment in favor of the enlisted men
resulted in the adoption CT an amendment
authorizing the President to issue cCm-
missions, by and with the advice and con-
sent Of the Senate, to warrant officers who
had served as such for ten consecutive
years The grades of chief boatswain,
etc, were created 10 enable the President
to make the promotions and it was pro-
vided that these commissioned officers
should rank with but after, ensiGns-
There was no provision ma e. however, for
promoting them beyond those grades. the
lowest in the list of commissioned officers.
The bill to which Secretary Long has
given his approval is intended to provide
for the further advancement of these men.
John Crogan, of this city. who has been
interested in the proposition to promote
enlisted men to the commissioned grades,
has been making enquiries of several en-
bassies and legations in Washington as to
the regulations of foreign naval establish
ments in regard to the promotion of men
from the ranks. He has received answers
from the Embassies Of Great Britain.
France, Russia and the Japanese and
Russian Legations.
While il IS apparent from the letters to
Mr.. Crogan that. foreign Governments are
not liberal in offering inducements to sea-
men 20 better themselves socially and off,
cialIy it is nevertheless possible for a
common sailor 10 become an cmcer The
Secretary of the British Embassy wrote
that the promotion Of a seaman to the
rank of an officer in the royal navy rarely
takes place and only ing very exceptional
circumstances such as when man has
displayed great ability in the heId-"
The naval attache of the French EN-
bassy wrote: In the French navy special
regulations permit some of the petty Off
n 90 TO no NJ in or3a To civ naT,1
after two years Of study their examination
for the rank ofIensign. Of course very
few are promoted in that Two c. three at
most every year, sometimes more"
The naval attache OF the japanese le-
cation wrote: AS a general rule, an or
binary rule. a common sailor cannot be
promoted from the ranks to a commits
sion, but exceptions are made N time of
war Tor special bravery and courage. We
have. however, engineer officers who rank
as commissioned officer who began their
careers as plain mechanics with the rank
of common sailors Every man can be
come IL time warrant officer and ii
few other branches, for instance, fer the
administration of the ordnance stores
etc. ne can also hold fall commission,
but the number Of those places is re
stricted-'
In his answer. the Russian Naval At
tache said: "A common satlCr c. the Rus
sian Navy can never get a promotion to
the rank of a regular commissioned Off
GER All such officers are graduates Of the
naval academy at st. PeIersbuE g
The following extract is from a letter
received from Pear Admiral A s. Crown
inshield. Chief Of the Bureau of Naviga-
ton: There is no provision under law
whereby an enlisted man can be promo
ted to the rank of a commissioned officer
IN the United States Navy except to the
grade of warrant officer