The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-07-10

mandarin down to cOolle-Great Brit
ain was the ruling power. American
naval officers on the Asiatic station
say that the opinion formed then con-
tinues.
Among officers OF the American
navy whose duties take them on a con-
tinuous round OF foreign capitals,
there is constant embarrassment. Al
most invariably the American trails
after the British, German, Austrian,
Italian, Dutch. Danish, Swedish, Nor
wegian. Russian, Japanese, French.
Spanish, Portuguese. Greek, Turkish.
Argentine, Brazilian, Chilean, Peru
Wan. Chinese.
All outrank him. All have vice ad-
mirals and most of them full grade ad-
mirals. Foreign war vessels which
come into Vera Cruz today salute the
British colors first, steaming silently
past the rows OF American ships, some
OF them as large as all three "limeys,"
as the B%ritishers are called.
Native Mexico sees. Mexico also
pays respect to the British. II Amer
lea had admirals or ever v~lce-admirals
In command of it's imposing fleets. the
situation might be reversed.
In the Atlantic fleet along the east
coast of Mexico, centered at Vera
Cruz, are six real admirals. All are
Of equal rank. but hold precedence
according to the date of their promo
ton. The commanding organization.
according to precedence among the
rear admirals consequently Is:
Charles J.. Badger, commander-in-
chief Atlantic fleet, March 8, 1911.
Cameron MGR. Winslow, command
ing special service squadron, Septem-
Der IA, 1911.
Frank F. Fletcher. commanding first
division, October II, 1911.
Frank +. Beatty, commanding third
division, April 81. 1912.
Clifford j. Boush, commanding Sec
ond division. March &c, 1913.
Henry T. Mayo, commanding fourth
division. June Is. 1913.
In any American commercial organi-
cation OF the magnitude of the At
lantic fleet there would be an ascend
ing order Of ranks, the officers dimin-
ishing in number as the rank ascends.
In almost any other navy there would
be an admiral In command of such a
large fleet and two or more vice-ad-
mirals and real admirals in command
OF each division.
The men in a division OF a feet out
number those in a brigade OF the
army. A single ship compares to a
regiment In men. In armament it
equals three or four regiments of ar
tillery. The smallest battleship has
between coo and zoe men. The entire
Twenty-eighth regiment OF infantry
here has only $50 men. A dreadnaught
has between LOO and 1900 men. The
Seventh-the largest regiment here
has not 1000. A battleship is a city
in itself-homes and workshops In
which the population must be drilled
and, when occasion requires. turned
out to fight.
A division consists OF five battle
ships-one Of which usually is locked
for repairs-and when in fleet or
ganization a varying number OF aux
Hilary cruisers. g%unboats, d~estroyers.
GOLFERS and other craft. A fleet OF five
divisions would be much larger than
an army division.
A captain in the navy ranks with a
colonel in the army. A rearadmiral
ranks with a major-general.
Rear Admiral Farragut after the
Civil war was made an admiral. Da-
vid Porter was made a vice-admiral
and on Farragut's death succeeded to
the full rank Of admiral. The rank
Of admiral died with Porter.
Appointment Of temporary admirals
for command OF fleets has been sug-
gested. They would always be out
ranked by admirals Of other nations
because OF length of service, as DO
litical pressure would be strong to
pass the honor around as rapidly as
possible.
The result is that the great Ameri-
navy, which has beer built I'D to
hold the nation in a place as a world
power, is always at a tactical disad.
vantage when its commanding officers
are forced into back seats by thn ofi
GERS of other nations.