Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-22
Army AND NAVY

to Colonel Bowen, and not through
the western department, and at a
time when he scarcely was settled
in his new quarters at the Preside
y -
WASHINGTON to pro-
vide for admirals and vice-admirais in
the navy. with permanent commits
sions, and not merely holding the
rank while actually serving On sea
duty In command of the fleets or
squadTons, is urged in memoranda just
submitted by PaymasterGeHefal Co
vie, L. S. ~, to the house committee
on naval affairs. This recommenda-
ticn follows Secretary Daniels der
laration in favor of four vice-admirals
and the reported probable attitude of
the naval committee in favor of tenn
porary commissioning of ear-admirals
in these higher ranks.
This Fumored attitude on the part
of the naval committee regarding q
question Of such vital moment" wrote
the paymaster-general, lis the source
Of much apprehensive worry to gov
eminent officials, naval officers and
other persons familiar with interna.
tional affairs, who in their well-found-
ed knowledge, very keenly appreciated
the necessity which demands the Gre
alton Of permanent higher flag rank in
the American navy.
Only Halfway Measure.
"A law that would grant only tenn
porary commissions as admirals and
vice-admirals would, at best, prove
hardly more than a halfway measure,
and would almost entirely fail to bring
about those national benefits and ad-
vantages Of position, the obtaining of
which constitutes the motive of rec
ommendaticn. Supreme command, in
International activities, depends not
only on relative grade standings, re-
garded separately, but also on the
seniority Of commissions within a
grade. -.
The perpetual RELOCATION of Amer
lean commanders to inferior phases
of joint duties under foreign leader
ship is something that is neither prof
table in practice, nor pleasant to
think upon. '..'
AN admiral should command a
fleet, vice-admfral should command
a squadron, rear4admiraI should
command division" =. =
The payniaster- general added that 1t
was opposed to all common sense, as
well as TO the niceteies Of propriety,
for a commander in chief to bear the
same rank and title as the subordinate
division and squadron heads under his
flag. ~ ~
THE United States" he said, lis the
only naval power that eonfides the
command OF. powerful battle fleet to
a rear-admiral, and even the Chinese,
Portuguese and Danish nayies have
Mce-admirals who take precedence
over the commander in chief of the
American Atlantic fleet. . '''
Opposes Rank for cnapIains.
Vigorous opposition to comforting
military rank on .chaplainsf in the
navy is expressed by Rear-admiral
Victor Blue, chief Of the bureau Of
navigation of the navy department, In
"a communication to the house naval
affairs committee He said the term
chaplain ought to be rank in itself.
!" A chaplain" said Admiral Blue.
has no military authority. l do not
wish TO speak In defogation of our
chaplains generally, but in the past l
have seen some of them do what ws
call stand on rank, and rank, Of
course, especially high rank, is con-
dueiye to spirit OF superiority which
is Incompatible with the proper re-
lationship between a clergyman and
his congregation -
-s s..-