The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-10
TIE AMERICAN NAVY.
An Omcer Who Resents Criticisms BY
other Onicers and by THE sun"


/ other O1icers and by THE sun"
] To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sr: let.
! ter recently appeared in your paper signed
Navy Reform. noteworthy mainly for
! the cleverness OF its satire and the &C.
/ centricity, not to say coarseness. of its
/ figures Of speech One would hesitate TO
| take seriously writer who uses such Ian
guaGe in referring TO his superior officer.
whose head has grown white in the SER
vice OF his country. as gray hairs that
are but kind Of fungus spriuRing from
n disused brain, and which command no
measure OF proper respect" Along with
the punishment for striking a superior Off
Ger. referred 70 in his letter as the present
bar 10 promotion. are also tho following
articles "Or treats his superior officer
with contempt; or ia disrespectful TO him
in language OF department while In execu-
ton OF his Office; or Joins in or sbets any
combination to weaken the lawful authority
Of, or the respect due TO, his commanding
officer
Does there pervade this letter either
spirit Of differentiation and fidelity TO his
superior officer or Of fair minded, dgniied
and thoughtful criticism
have scanned the lotter in vain for any
fscts or any ground upon which the writer
might be taken seriously. Such a screed
might be written as an introduction to
-PnAiore' IL is but the opinion Of one
person vino apparently having no serious
occupation for his sword, borrows quill
TO air bic wit.
Judge Of my astonishment. therefore. D.
find Ia your paper an editorial commencing
we have received a letter in which is ~
posed dep,orable condition Of our navy
as concerns many, and indeed most. OF It's
officers This communication represents
the views and records the experiences OF
the ablest and most ambitious officers of
the service
Pray, where, sir this exposition OF a de-
plorable condition as concerns most Of the
ofiicers'2 Where the views and record
Of experiences of the ablest and most am
bilious officers OF the service'2 Not in this
letter.
Confess. then. to hasty. i'll advised and
exaggerated editorial for which you owe
the navy an apology.
There being nothing in the letter OF Naval
Reform to controvert. the writer will con-
fine himself TO the editorial Of TIVE SUN
The editorial continues; Heretofore we
have avoided criticism Of the navy. though
the provocations to it for several years past
have been frequent and glazing: but now
1t may properly be made upon the strength
Of the facts brought 10 view by this dis
tinguished officer
What facts?
The American navy has been the pride
of our people from the earliest days Of the
Republic"
at l,t,t r,l, - Al.
when the navy starved and throttled the
South by blockading and cutting of supplies
west of the Mississippi. IN the twenty years
following the war this same navy dwindled
TO nothing with scarcely a ship TO fly flag;
and many OF its officers sought employment |
in civil life for lack of career.
our navy. especially since 1881, support
ed by liberal appropriations by Congress,
has been steadily and greatly strength |
ened"
Does THE Sun know that in 1882 a law
was passed which discharged during the |
next ten years 1856 young and promising
officers. whose services to-day would be Of
the utmost value? That the navy. whose
tonnage has increased from 10000 in 1881
TO 500 600 to-day. and whose enlisted force
has increased from 800 to $4,000 In the
same period is carrying on its duties with
the same number of line officers as in 1881?
Negligence and inefhciency calling
loudly for radical reform of such scanda-
GUS Conditions these are indeed harsh
words TO apply 10 officers earnestly striv-
ng TO discharge the additional duties thus
thrust upon them; this, too without
or hearing. Has THE Sun
studied the broad question of promotion?
let 1t read such able reports az were
written by the Phythian board in 1924 and
by Mr. Foss. the chairman Of the Com
nittee On Naval Affairs, and by Mr. Roose-
welt. then Assistant Secretary of the Navy
1880 before thus lightly advocating re-
orms.
The navy is suffering to-day from an alb
dilute lack OF officers Of any sort. due TO the
Inwise reduction of officers during the last
twenty-five years. and heart breaking re-
ardation Of promotion. consequent IN laws
nacted during that period Under our
resent law we are getting Lieutenant
Commanders OF a suitable age; above that
rade the evil effects OF the above men
iored laws will for several years give us
Ulcers older for their grades than is gen
rally accepted as giving the best results.
'nce rid Of this hump. the American navy
ill have the best system Of promotion
ompatible with the American character
nd the traditions of ito people Such is
he recorded opinion Of the thoughtful
1inds in the history OF the service,
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. = JUSTICE.