The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-24
An omcer of the NAVY on Its persOnne,

To THE EDITOR OF THR SIN Sir, letter
sent on the 5th inst. 70 the Secretary OF
the Navy by tho General Board begins by
saying that the board is Impressed by the
serious condition Of the commissioned per-
sonnet OF the navy and by the danger OF
postponing action TO improve its efficiency"
and II submits certain suggestions.
These suggestions concern both the line and
the stan. but deal chiefly with the line, the
question there being by far the more serious.
In brief the recommendations regarding
the Line are as follows: Candidates for the
Naval Academy to be between the ages OF
Is and II years. midshlpmen to be appointed
every three years instead OF every four. as
AT present the course at the Academy to be
three and half years for the next class 20
graduate. after that and until 1913 the course
to be three vears Midshipmen 60 TO sea for one
year. are then promotet 70 ensign. and at the
end OF another year TO Junior Lieutenant
These changes arc made on account OF the
present great shortage or officers.
To properly distribute this large increase
OF officers among the naval grades the per-
centage that each grade should have Of the
total mum Der Of officers below flag rank is
fixed Tho number in each grade win thus
be increased gradually 70 satisfy the de-
mands Of the new, ships. Tho Grade Of Vice
Admiral is created. and the number OF Rear
Admirals ia fixed NJ tvCnty-seven as given
in the last Navy REGISTER.
According TO the present law the midship-
far the rreeter part OF tholr career as Junior
Iieutenants. and In no way cnn this be svoide ed
2
The NEXT step Is the creation OF reserve
list Commanders at IS years OF age hno
Captains at 60 are tr4nsferret to the reserve
list These aCes are reduced one year every
succeeding two vcnrs until Commanders are
transferred A. 50 ve1rs and Captains AZ IS
The Officers Of The reserve list receive prono-
ton. pay and allowances ne AZ present but
do not ro 70 ee', they perform shore duty
only and retire NJ tho age Of 90 ycars Com
rnanderz and Captains doing engineering
duty only are transferred 80 tho reserve list
r. ri~rt ~ this scheme viii be 10 give us
within the next ton Years Admirals who have
seven voars 20 serve on the active list To
any one NJ all familiar with naval Affairs II Il
needless 70 .poiqt out What tremendous
system. which produces Admirals with loss
than two Years sometimes only few months
to serve.
Tho line OF Tho navy needs surgical operr
tion m apnlied this winter tho knife will
cut fairly deep TIM longer tho operation il
POSTPONED tho deNper must be the cut. II
navy no matter how many ships you build
The service hopos md expects TINT Con
grcss will pass bill this session embodvinH
the recommendations Of the General Board
There IL come faint talk % selection bur
II would be absurd u apply that system Of
promotion ~ the service In its present CON
dtlon. and the advocates OF any such scheme
There = one NOR. thinr That =. needed and
thst sthe vecdlne ont OF incomret"nt officer.
Tho trouble la that our examining boards
nre tiei b. mas Of rel tape in the shape Of
precentS and laws Fortunately we now
hare a aecretary who IA M lawyer and
Judge Advocate General who is saIIor ana
who has not been long enouVh in once 10
become p LAWYER, From THIS combination
We erDect reform In n most vital matter
Then With a healthy flow 81 promotion
ana NJ men prornotN ~ who are not thorousf
A. We would before Ion z have q fine Vi POROUS
the entire navy-som e. hing much needed
l W4AHrsoIqkl iAn ~ AGAYy QxUqKp,