The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-23

not Deen argued tAat during these long
years there have been no men in the
navy who by their bearing and services
in peace and war have earned this recog-
. milton 1t is not pleaded that the men
whom captains Of men-Of-war including
Lord Charles Beresford. have recon-
mended for executive commissions have
not had tact. seamanlike knowledge and
experience or have been lacking in other
desirable military qualities but the cause
1t is known, has been quite different.
Men from the lower deck would net be
comfortable themselves IN the wardrooms
OF ships Of war. nor would they conduce
TO the comfort Of the other occupants This
has been the obstacle which. in a mistak-
en- spirit Of loyalty 10 the gentlemen who
at present officer the feet. the Admiralty
. have allowed to hinder them in ade-
fIately rewardins the work Of men whom
the Captain Of the Condor has styled the
backbone of the service
mere are some signs that the IA al au-
thorlties are releEting and that {, com
promise viii be arrived at. One ASPECT Of
TINS modus viyendi is a long story When
the Naval Ordance Store Department was
fnaugurated eleven years ago II WIS prom
lsed tnat the assistant officers charged
with It's control should be chiefs and
gunners, with 4 certain number of ne4fv
o1nceFs- Almost every year since this
! promise was made 1t has been announced
mat the question is under ccnsifera-
/ tlon, and IN the Meantime the FIVE vacan-
cles that have occurred and should have
, peen hIied by warrant officers have gone
10 civilians, as though no debt were due
! to those men who have done gallant se-
wee afoat Over and over again it has
been officially announced that the Admf-
/ ralty intend 10 carry out their obIiea lions.
DCt they have not done So At last z
practical business man, the present Fl
hahclal Secretary to the Admiralty has
taken the matter in hand. and there is
reason 10 hape that he viii redeem the
promises so repeatedly made and So CON
slstentIy broken But it may be asked
What has this TO do with The promotion
OF men from the lower deck2''
The work in this naval department
! opens up a sphere in which promoted
| warrant officers can enjoy all the dig
nIty and emoluments OF Iieutenant's rank
without tread5ng on anyone-s toes. though
the Admiralty overestimates sadly the
tenderness of the pedal extremitfes Of
the officers Of the Kings navy. many OF
whom are avOwedIy II favor OF this act
! OF justice TO the lower deck Admiral
SIT Edmund r FTemanLIe after a long
and distinguished career. during which
ne has seen all the good and bad in the
) British bluejaCket and IN the nick Of the
! lower deck. the chief and warrant Of
]
motion as does Lord Charles Beresford.
These officers represent the highest social
grade IN the senior service. that which
springs from the peerase. and vet they
and dozens Of others desire the obstacles
10 promotion from the lower deck TO be
removed.
Another sign of awakening at whitehall
IS the appointment Of chief warrant of
| hcefS 20 small vessels, positions D-e-
VioUsiy held by lieutenant and the utiI-
/ lzattcE Of warrant officers il other small
/ vessels engaged in harbOT service It i
/ true, Ehe Admiralty are making q virtue
Oh necessity In consequence of the grear
increase N the number Of ships there Is
q shortage OF 1Ieutenants. which even The
| Incursions by mercantile officers. to the
hummer CT rs known as supplementary
IieUtenaHts, have rot entirely reme5ied.
There IS ample scope for the employment
N MINOR commands and ashore at The
! ordnance deDots and coaliag stations. OF
large number OF these officers. who
should be given Ieutenant's rank.
II the plea Is conceded IN z generous
manner the country viii gain financially.
and as the goal Of every bIueIacker-s am
bstIon IS made more desirable his INTEREST
! in his work. his happy resignation 10 ff,e
! rough, hard life Of his earlier years will
| b. increased, and there viii be { larger
number who will exert themselves To
profit by the opportunities for seIf-educa-
! ton and professional improvement. thar
come in their way It must be renem-
| hefed that not every man can rise to ba
warrant officer. Not until a warrant Off
Ger has been ii the feet from q quarter Of
a century to thirty five years can he hone
TO be promoted to be chief"
Let anyone who is acquainted in the
| slightest degree with naval life picture
~hat this means ! man who would hone
/ Ior such distinction must have not o1Tv
4 proved himself professionally capable in
| the highest degree as seaman. pettv Off
| Ger, and chief petty officer. but in all these
/ years his conduct must have been beyond
! TepToach- Surely after serving z pToba-
/ non, the authorities would do well TO con-
! cede TO the most deserving OF these serv-
ants of the King the commission of q lien
! tenant al the end of three OF four years
| service as chief warrant officer. with en-
/ ployment either in some Of the many
/ smaller independent commands OF. at ord
! nance and coaling depots
In these days. when the wGrki1rrnau
| enjoys high wages and so many FfTynrfav
| ashore, the 5luejackeCs life is hard The
Admiralty may well pause before tbev
/ permit refusal Of Just pleas to bar from
the imperial service afIoat the best bone
and muscle and intelligence that the conn
Try provides. Too late the nation discov-
I cred that the conditions of army life were
not attractive As the prizes within the
grasp CT any boy who works hard at his
trade ashore are increased as they are
/ being augmented year by year. 50 must
the conditions Of existence afoat and the
prospects OF the sailors be improved. if
! the calibre of the men who serve the Kline
aioat is not to deteriordte.
/