Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-16

that We must nave more oIHcerS ana bettSI
trained men Of high rank. In all the prin-
cipai navies CT the world except our own
the grade OF vice admiral forms part of the
regular organisation. Other nations have
apparently created that grade to give
strong inducement to rear admirals to be
Industrious and to develop their skill and
efficiency in fair competition for promo
ton for vice admiral; second, because the
commander-in-chief OF a feet or q large
squadron, with increased authority and re-
spensibility, Is logically entitled to higher
rank than the flag officers serving under
ed flag officers of high rank, experience,
proved skill and efficiency, competent and
ready to obtain the best possible results
with any feet or squadron placed under
his command
.'The United States has smaller number
of commissioned officers of all ranks in the
sea-going corps than any power except
Austria. We have only 1-95 commissioned
built and building, while Great Britain
has 252 France 3.5S and Germany 3.4S.
I'VE have one admiral and twenty-four
rear adnirals. six Of the latter being
during the war with Spain, while the grade
Of admiral ceases to exist when vacated by
the present incumbent.
Great Britain has four adnirals of the
fleet, eleven admirals. twenty-three vice ad-
mirals and forty-nine real. admirals. Ger
many has one admiral of the feet, four adj
mirals, eight vice admiralss and nineteen
rear admirals. France has fifteen vice ad-
mirals and thirty rear admfraiS Japan has
seven admirals, twenty-three vice admfrals
and twenty-five rear admirals.
Zone of the admirals of the British navy
is only ffty-nine years old and another Is
ffty-six while nearly all of them are under
sixty. All of the rear admirals In the
British navy are under sixty, the youngest
being fifty years old and the oldest fifty
nine. Six are fifty-four, six are fifty-five
eight are fifty-six and nine are fifty-seven
years old.
The Remedy Proposed.
''To remedy this weakness in our navy
the general board has prepared an amend
ment to the law which will promote our
officers to commands and flag ranks at
younger ages than at present and keep
them at sea long enough to permit them to
become efficient. 1t is proposed to amend
the personnel act so that the seagoing, &C
tive line of the navy shall be composed of
twenty-four rear admirals and that the
remainder of officers below flag rank shall
be distributed among the several grades in
the following proportion: Captains seven
per cent; commanders. seven per cent: lieu
tenant commanders, eighteen per cent; lieu
tenants, forty-one per cent, and leutenants,
Junior grade and ensigns, twenty-seven per
cent, provided that the number of captains
and commanders shall not be reduced be-
low eighty-five.
'.It is also proposed to create reserve
list for shore duty, except In time of war,
upon which an officer can have but one
promotion, after examination, contempt
raneously with the officer next ahead OF
him on the seagoing list. all officers to
be placed upon the retired list upon reach
Ing the age of sixty-two, and all flag OFF,
GERS now on the seagoing list over sixty
years Of age, who have not performed sea
duty flag officers. Prior to July l. 1907
place upon 1t the day following his promo
ton to rear admiral any officer more than
sixty years of age. After July l, 1907. place
upon it, the day following his promotion to
rear admiral, any officer more than fifty
nine years of age. Have the board of five
rear admirals provided by the personnel
act on the 30th of June of each year, when
ever the senior ten captains average more
than fifty-hve years of age, designate f1f-
teen per cent of all the captains for the
reserve list: when the senior ten COM
manders average more than fifty years of
age, place seven per cent of the COM
manders on the reserve list; when the Sc
nior ten lteutenants average more than
thirty-seven years of age, place seven per
cent on the reserve list. Permit captains,
commanders and lieutenant commanders to
apply for the reserve list.
Authorize the President, with the advice
and consent of the Senate, to designate six
rear admirals to remain on the active list
until they reach the age of sixty -four. with
the rank of vice admiral, and thereafter,
whenever there Is vacancy among the
vice admirals the President is to appoint a
board of three officers of that rank who
shall be authorized to fill it by the selec-
ton Of a rear admiral, who shall have had
not less than one year In command of a d.
vision squadron or feet.
This would give the necessary flow OF
promotion" said Admiral Dewey in conclu-
sion, land, as the personnel Is increased
by graduates from the Naval Academy,
they would be distributed automatically
and evenly in the several grades without
additional legislation. The reserve list
would provide officers for shore duty. while
those on the seagoing list would spend
most Of their time at sea, where they would
get the experience which is absolutely es-
sential."