The Washington herald., 1908-04-16
Naval Elimination

Apprehension, If not positive alarm, must
come TO naval officers who are made
acquainted from official quarters with the
purpose Of the administration TO continue
the practice Of selectng-out officers Of
various senior grades in order to make
a specific number OF vacancies and SO
aid promotion. The officers who favor
this drastic method OF preventing stagna-
tion in the naval commissioned personnel
are those who believe themselves IN no
position Of peril, and who, either on ac-
count OF the security Of confidence in
their own usefulness. or by reason Of ex-
treme youth, feel that they are shielded
from compulsory and summary retire
ment at the hands of the board Of rear
admirals. such as met last year and by a
star chamber process got rid uf certain
officers while they were still in their
prime
There is nothing to be said against, and,
indeed, there Is much 20 be said in favor
Of, some just plan which shall protect Off
GERS from the dire calamity Of retarded
promotion. The time Is rapidly approach
ing when advancement of officers viii be
seriously impeded. and when the dreaded
stagnation so demoralizing to naval mil
itary efficiency and discouraging to its
victims viii prevail Naturally. those Off
GERS who desire to escape the effect Of
this blight will welcome any process
which creates vacancies above them, and
so advances the date of promotion.
There are two methods by which, under
existing law, this may now be done one
Is by the application of those officers who
wish 10 be transferred from the active
list and who. being so retired, may FOR
time be continued with full pay and
allowances on active duty. The prospect
that certain officers are in danger of
being selected-out. with all the implied
discredit of such a method Of "riddance."
has undoubtedly led some naval officers
/ to file applications for retirement. But
this does not relieve the Navy Depart
ment, apparently, Of the necessity of
ordering a board of rear admirals to
seIeet-out the other officers who fail to ap-
ply for retirement, and who are considered.
for one or another reason, unfit This
would be well enough if there we're any
opportunity given an officer TO defend
himself. and he assuredly needs defense
when it is made TO appear, so far as
the effect on public opinion is concerned,
that the selected-out officer is in some
way unworthy of continuance on the ac-
tive list II an officer has done wrong,
he should be court-martialed; If he is
physically UNFIT he should be retired by
medical board; if ne is professionally
or otherwise disqualified that defect
should have been discovered before he at
tains the rank of lieutenant commander
or commander, much less that of captain
IN any event, the process of elimination
should rot have attached TO 1t the con
dltons which operate with manifest In
justice to individual officers. and In a
way detraeting from their personal and
professional regulations. It was hoped
that this method would be discontinued,
but according to the statement made to
the House Naval Committee the other
day by the Assistant Secretary of the
Navy. in the exploitation of the scheme
for establishing a naval reserve. it was
made known that the administration in
tends 10 continue the harsh practice Of
enforced elimination.