New-York tribune., 1902-12-14

from the ranks toward those who have re-
ceived their commissions on first joining. In
the English navy as l have just stated, the
cases of promotion of this kind have been so
few and the officers in question have so soon
either retired or been transferred TO a berth
ashore that 1t is difficult to speak from expert
ence But the English army furnishes number
of illustrations which may be applied to the
marine forces Of the empire.
OF course I do not speak Of the so-called gen
tlemen rankers," mostly young fellows of good
families and Of means who, after having failed
at the competitive examinations for commits
sicns. have enlisted as privates, with the object
of eventually becoming officers by means Of
promotion Nor do l mean to refer here TO
those honorary commissions granted on their
retirement to riding masters bandI!-asters, etc
In order to enable them to enjoy in private life
the prestige and status Of a Heutenancy. hut
the officers whom l have in mind are those VINO.
being Of humble birth and without any eXcep-
tional advantages of education. have won 4
commission by some gallant deed by long
and meritorious service. With the solitary ex
ception of General Sir Hector Macdonald, who
started life as a errand boy in village shop
in Scotland a sentry outside the tent OF
King Edward when the latter visited India
Prince Of Wales twenty-seven years ago and
Is now general commanding one of the military
districts in India-a typical Scotchman OF rare
force Of characterize position Of the officers
promoted from the ranks has been one not only
painful to themselves. but likewise to their
messmates matter how kindly the latter
may have been disposed toward them.
1t is rare indeed that any of the officers of a
regiment would voluntarily do anything to make
comrade promoted from the ranks feel that
he did not enjoy their advantages of birth and
education. N he inst af off
GERS thus promoted that have come under my
notice they have been treated with the utmost
consideration and delicacy by their comrades.
But they themselves the first feel that
they belong to different social sphere to q
different caste. that not only their birth, but
likewise their entire training, has been OF
different character. that they unable to see
matters from the same point of view as those
among whom their lot is cast, and that they
have neither the same tastes nor the same
preJudlces, nor yet the same advantages of
breeding. The consequence is that they are
never at ease, but constrained reserved and
uhc"iiSehlal, dlscourdging, perhaps unintention-
ally the advances made toward them
OF course, when they happen to be married or
fVen If they have relatives visiting them the
situation becomes still more difficult; for, as a
rule, the wives of the officers of a regiment
form, so to speak, a clique or set of their own
like some big family, and it is not always pos
sible to introduce with success into such q little
world as this a devoid Of the ADVANTAGES
OF birth and breeding. The result of all this is
tfat When an officer has risen from the ranks he
seldom remains for any length Of time with his
regiment but soon seeks some separate assign
ment which will have the effect of enabling him
to get away from his fellow officers and from
their families, condemned in that case to lead
an even still more solitary life, since his rank as
commissioned officer and the care which he is
obliged TO exercise to discourage any familiarity
the part Of the men under his command com
pei him to refrain from holding with them any
thing but strictly official intercourse