New-York tribune., 1906-04-08
Rank in the NAVY

A S we all know, the President Is Commander
n in-Chief of the land and sea forces but
how he came by the latter title IS probably
not known to everyone 1t dates back
long before the Revolution to source which
one would be unlikely to suspect. in fact
it may be traced to King James ii.
If that monarch's faults were many he at
any rate possessed the virtue of being sincere
in his desire TO improve the British navy.
When Duke OF Ork, his interest IN and knOwl-
edge of matters pertaining to the sea forces
were so marked that he was appointed Lord
High Admiral of England In this title he
took such pride that ne retained 1t when he
assembled the throne. He was thus the first
British monarch to declare himself Commander
in-Chief of the sea forces a title retained by
his successors ever since.
So, when in the course of time the American
Colonies achieved independence, that office,
with other prerogatlveS. passed from King
George | II. to the President of the new Amer
lean Republic, and was confirmed upon him by
Congress. and held by those following, even If
the majority of them knew little about things
marine.
In this connection it Is curious to trace how
the other commanders of our sea forces. the
admralS, came by their distinction When
look at the reproduction of an old print
depicting a waT-shIp of the Middle Ages. we
observe that, while the oars were Piled or sails
trimmed by sailors who We're practically slaves
the fighting men stood To their arms as if
they had no concern with the navigation of
the ship. At that period the fighting men of
a war-vessel were merely soldiers at sea
Their senior officer was much in the posi-
ton of the average owner of a preSent-dav
Yacht to give general directions to the mas
ter what point he would like to make, but
knowing little or nothing about the handling
of a ship. In fact all such work he considered
as beneath his dignity To him the oppor-
tunity came when a boarding was TO be effected
or a landing made on some hostile shore.
When not actually engaged in sea warfare
he returned to land leaving the ship to the
care of those who We're not fighting men. As
however, he gained a sea-hghting reputation
he was naturally employed IN any such ener-
genCV; and hence we have the origin OF our
naval rank of admiral.
Almost up to the advent of steam power
the admirals, captains, and heutenautS con-
sdered it their principal business to attend TO
the diScharging of broadSideS in advantageous
positions and affected a degree of contempt
for the routine of ship work. Thus it Is prob
able that more than one gallant officer Of the
early American navy would have been harder
put to pass an examination in navigation than
the fighting officers OF to-day for a position in
the engine-room-
From the sea soldier, however, IT must not
be presumed comes that amphibiOuS being
the marine His origin is of much later date
He appeared on board ship when II was the
custom to press men into the sea service of
their country much against their inclination:
gathering in the indiScriminate haul the bad
characters of slum and highway. A crew COM
posed OF these elements was likely 10 mutinv
at the first opportunity; military guard
was stationed amidshipS 10 overawe the crew
rather than for use against an enemy. Hence
the marine.