Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-04
TAFT WANTS YOUNGER
MEN FOR THE U. S. NAVY
He Would Improve Personnel
of the Fighting Force OF
the Navy -
NV A,,ocisted rress.l

WASHINGTON, March 2.-Young blood
i'm the command of the navy was the
Keynote of a special message which PresF
ident Taft sent to congress urging
legislation for improving the personnel I
the fighting force. and to remedy what
the president termed IAN abnormal con-
dition. the result of past legislation
Under conditions now existing, the pres
ident declared the promotion OF officers
of the lower grades was stagnated TO
the great de;riment of the service and
the country. because nearly every officer
who retained his health was allowed to
pass through the various grades and Pe
retired as rear admiral. and the greater
number of commanding officers had had
inadequate experience.
Under the existing system officers being
trained now in command of battle ships
and armored cruisers could not serve as
flag Officers on account OF their short
time on the active list, after reaching
that grade.
ADMIRALS AT IS.
To remedy these conditions, the presi-
dent Endorsed a bill which had been pre-.
pared by Secretary Meyer. which would
promote officers TO the grade of rear ad-
miral at an average age of 81 10 So years
and 10 captain at the average age OF
IS or A.. These changes, the president
said in his opinion, did not provide men
young enough for the duties OF vessels
or for the best success in fleet engage
ment should war come, but he felt they
were a decided Improvement and he in
timaied that at some other time it might
be advisable TO make even further reduc-
lions in the ages. --f
Some of the most important changes
which the president recommended were:
To create higher ranking flag officers.
The size of the fleet now demands two
grades above rear admiral. In the At
Iantic fleet there should be an admiral
in command. a vice admiral for the sec
ond squadron, and rear admirals for each
of the other two divisions.
The personnel OF officers and men
should be based on the tonnage of e.
fective ships and increases or decreases
OF ships would increase or decrease the
personnel in a fixed proportion. Provis-
ions should be made against sudden fluc-
tuations i'm the personnel. however.
With 10000 tons of ships as now au-
thorized. the ultimate personnel would
reach 5000 line officers and midshipmen
and 5000 enlisted men. The officers as
now would be drawn from the naval
academy with additions from the ranks
DEPEND ON SERVICE.
A reorganization of the retirement
scheme would fix the rate of. pay of re-
tired officers on their time of service
The president believes that too many Of
ficers reach the rank of senior rear all
miral and retire without adequate return
to the government. A sliding scale OF
retirement pay. according to the years
of service would be arranged. During
the next II years. il the proposed measure
becomes law. there will be about 13S re-
tirements from ordinary causes against
504 during the last II years, with cost
OF one-foGrth of the latter
In urging the need Of the proposed leg
isiation, that the younger officers may
be eligible for promotion and become
qualified to command the fleets and
squsdrOns. the president pointed to the
fact that under the present arrangement
leo officers would enter the Junior lieu
tenants grade each year.