Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-26
Service in Other Countries.

A table herewith submitted shows the
ages of the eldest and youngest, and the
average ages of the flag officers of differ
ent grades and captains in the English,
French. German. Italian, Austrian and
United States navies at the present time.
The average ages of rear admirals of
different countries, about January 1, 1910,
were thus follows: Japanese, fifty
years: German, ffty-one years. English,
fifty-three years: Austrian, fifty-five years
Italian, tifty-six years; French, tifty-nine
years; American, sixty years five months.
the effect of the proposed measure
would be to promote our officers to the
grade of rear admiral at an average
age of fifty-four to tifty-five, and to make
the average of all the rear admirals
about fifty-eight.
The average ages of captains about
January l, 1910, were tfrom the same
table, as follows: English. A years;
German, Is years; Japanese, As years;
Austrian, SO years; Italian, 81 years;
Effect of the Plan.
The effect of the proposed measure
would be to promote officers to the
grade of captain at an average age of
forty-six or forty-seven and to make
the average age of all the captains
about fifty.
The ages for rear admirals and cap
tains produced by the proposed meas
ure are not young enough, in my oDin-
ion. for the arduous duties of the mod
ern vessels Of war and for the best
success in a fleet engagement. should
war come, but they are decided i'm
provement. To reduce the ages still
further would not increase the cost:
but for other reasons l am unwilling
to advocate any further reduction a:
the present time.
The creating of higher ranking flag
officers is a military necessity. Through
custom and tradition, at a time when
the service was small, grades higher
than that Of rear admiral were re-
garded as rewards of merit for excep
tional war service. The size of the feet
now demands two grades above that of
rear admiral, which still would not
compare with the grades to be found
in foreign services. The customary
naval grades are admiral of the fleet
(grand admiraD, admiral, vice admirai,
rear admiral.
Custom Abroad.
Foreign fleets are commanded by ad-
mirals and vice admirals. In information
al council or in combined operations
the American admiral, whatever the i'm,
portance of his command, must assume
the junior position. In our Atlantic
fleet there are now four rear admirals.
There should be an admiral In COM
mand. vice admiral for the second
squadron, and a rear admiral for each
Of the other two divisions.
Considerations of proper military eff
cheney, well as due sense of ma
tional dignity and self-respect, as be-
fitting this great nation. urge that the
existing situation shall cease.
The Secretary OF the Navy has pre-
pared a tentative b.. for reorganizing
the personnel of the navy. which is at
the disposition Of the Congress should
1t be desired. This proposed plan for
relief meets with my hearty approval.
Outline of Proposed Measure.
The personnel Of officers and men is
based on the tonnage Of effective ships.
increases or decreases Of ships, due to
authorization by Congress or to sale or
other disposal. will increase or decrease
the personnel in fixed proportion In
time. though, the increases in new ton
mage will be Offset by old ships struck