Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-03-04
Nce.AdmirQk for the Ndvy

" The embarrassment suffered by the American naval
officers when associated with British and other for
eign naval officers on account of the disparity in rank
has reached such proportions that a bill, operating
the grade of vice,admiral for the navy mas been pro-
posed and passed by the Senate.
1.-THE BILL" says the New York Sun, permits the
selection of any rear admiral Of the upper nine, that
is to say, the ranking officers. four to be appointed
within one year after enactment of the law and two
thereafter, so that ability will rule and not seniority.
These four vice,admirals are to command fleets on
active service. Thus to illustrate by the situation at
Vera Cruz, the vexed question of whether an admiral
Of a foreign feet outranks an American officer shalt
take orders from him in an emergency will be elm.
mated.
Continuing its observations, the Sun remarks:
I'm q very short time now the Panama Canal will
be formally opened. How embarrassing and e%xasperat-
ing it would be if a British, French, German or Japa'
nese admiral outranked the American officer in COM
mand Of the United States fleet at the celebration.
As soon as. the House receives the Bryan bill from
the Senate it should be passed with no more discus
sion than is absolutely necessary, for any hour there
may be a complication at Vera Cruz, that will make
imperative the command of the marines of the inter.
national fleet by an American officer. .@a A.,
The Scranton Truth expresses its belief in the read
iness of the country to approve the action OF the
Senate in Grating the grade of yice:admiral. and says:
="It is understood that the house will 60 along on
this measure and that it will meet with the approval
Of tho President. : The amendment provides that no
additional numbers shall be created in the active list
Of the navy, which the promotion OF; men now acting
as srearadmirals to the higher grade.
Great foreign powers with powerful navies have
them commanded by men higher than rear.admiral
rank. In all great world functions in which navies
participate our 'adnirals have been outranker In grade
by sea commanders Of powers much inferior to ours,
particularly with regard to naval forces. This has
been a humiliation to many gallant American seamen
for which the niggardly policy of our government
was responsible" .3 a. &
Anxious to have our naval officers relieved from
the "embarrassments to which they would be. liable
IN; matters involving cooperation or negotiation with
the officers of other navies," the Buffalo Times argues
thus: @%s.&} ! !. 'ylshA r..
:Without the new rank in the event of ~co.nplica-
tons arising which would call for cooperative action
between our own, aud another navy, international pre-.
cedent might require an American rear-admiral to
take orders from a ranking officer of a foreign power.
Aside from a certain humiliation inseparable from
such q contingency, there would be likely to be ser.
tous practical reasons why such a situation would be
undesirable. &G .1:
In short the bill is 4 measure to maintain the dig
nifty Of the American Navy. 1t follows as a matter OF
course, that 1t is worthy Of cordial support.