The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-18

deprivation of Independent action and responsibility.
 To oppose such fleet to one equai- iy good, led by officers more active and more experienced in their duties. IS to Invite disaster. The following ta- ble gives the ages of the youngest cap- tains and flag officers, with the aver age years in grade, in the navies of great Britain, Germany, Japan and ths United States:
 Avcra xc
 years la Captains. Aae. grade. Great Britain. .. S5 II. 2 Germany ... 7. 42 sg Jarar. .. .. 3s So Chlted states. q. :. 55 As
 Average
 years In Sea Going FIag oficers AgS grade. Great Britain. .. q. IS so rfance.. ..si 14 } 9ermany.. .. ga. 51 6.5 Japan. 44 ii q CnIted states. !. 59 1.5 The facts shown in this table are startting and earnest attention is in- yited to them.
 The secretary cf the navy several montRs ago convened q beard of six Representative line officers with the As- slstant secretary of the navy as prcs- tdent. to consider and recommend such cnanges in existing law relative 10 the coInmissiQneG personnel or the line of the navy as would tend tO prorn"te cf- npaeacy and economy. The essentla recommendations of the board have been cordially approved by the se,,re- tary.
 The bill. herewith transmitted to the Congr~ss, has been formulated by the secretary and Is bAsee. except in few details, upon the recommendations of the board, I earnestly recommend It's early consideration, should 1t be cnac- ted Into law it Will cause officers clI the sea goins list to reach the grade of captain at forty-eigiit and raar ad- miral at fifty-five, and will assure their serving seven years nj the grade of captain and seven years in the grade Of rear admiral, thus enabling them to become thoroughly skilfuIl and eficient In these grades.
 Vice AdmiraI Grade.
 The accompanying bill also estab- fishes the grade of vice admiral This grade has long existed in all other principal navies of the world in order to obtain a selected grade of skilf4d commanders-in-chi The commander in-chief of q fleet with one or more toAt aomlraiS serving under him. Is logically entitled to a higher rank than his subordinates because of his greater authority and responsibility
 On occasions of official importance of international council or of combined naval action (as for instance1, the Boxer troubles in China, the interests of this great nation demand that our naval representative shall rank as the equal of the naval representative of .tfer powers.
 If the proposed plan Of promotion is carried out 1t will, as compared with existing law. make 6 saving of more than five millions of dollars during the next seven years. The principal part of this saving is made by stopping the voluntary retirement of young lieutAn- ant commanders with the rank and pay of commanders upon the retired list l am firmly of the opinion that" un- . less the political condition of the high. CT. personnel Is reetified by judicious legislation. the future of our navy will be gravely compromised
 forward herewith a letter Of the secretary of the navy enclosing dupii- cate drafts of the proposed bill. I also forward copy of the report of the personal board of the navy.
 Theodore RooRevelt.5