The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1914-07-10

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Of the world that might come here.
AS soon as the United States At
lantic feet started to assemble at Vera
Cruz Admiral Craddock, In the West
Indies, was ordered to proceed at all
speed to this spot AS soon as he ar
rived on the cruiser Essex, flying a
rear admiral's flag, he was the rank
Ing officer in port. In case of any
concerted move by the world powers
be would have commanded. and Great
Britain with its one cruiser-now the
cruisers Berwick and Lancaster have
joined the Essex-would have domi-
mated the situation.
Rather technical" says the layman.
True, but in affairs Of the sea and
nations rules Of precedence are strict.
Consequences have been serious and
far-reaching from a similar situation.
In the time OF the Boxer uprising in
China, when the allied powers landed
their forces 10 restore order, it was be-
lieved that Captain McCalla. an Amer
lean campaigner OF long experience in
China. would command. But Great
Britain, with foresight in 1900. just as
today, had hurried Vice-Admiral Sey-
mour to the scene of action. He out.
ranked the other officers. Great Brit
ain wanted TO dominate the situation.
Vice-Admiral Seymour surprised every.
body by going ashore and taking CON-
mand himself To the Chinese-from
mandarin down to coolie-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 adj
mirals and most of them full grade ad-
mirals. Foreign war vessels which
come into Vera Cruz today salute the
British colors first. steamng silently
past the rows Of American ships, some
of them as large as all three "limeys,"
as the Britishers are called.
Native Mexico sees Mexico also
pays respect to the British. If Amer
lea had admirals or even vice-admirals
in command Of it's imposing fleets. the
might be reversed.
In the Atlantic fleet along the east
coast of Mexico. centered at Vera
Cruz, are six rear 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 ]. Badger. commander-in-
chief Atlantic feet, March s, 1911
Cameron MGR. Winslow, command
ing special service squadron. Septem.
Der IA, 1911.
Frank F. Fletcher, commanding first
division, October II, 1911.
Frank E. Beatty, commanding third
division, April q, 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
large fleet and two or more vice-ad.
mirals and rear admirals in command
OF each division
The men in division OF fleet out
number those in a brigade Of the
army. A single ship compares to
regiment in men. In armament it
equals three or four regiments of ar
tillery. The smallest battleship has
between 500 and 700 men. The entire
Iwenty-eighth regiment Of infantry
here has only $50 men. A dreadnaught
has between LOO and 1900 men. The
Seventh-the largest regiment here
las not 1000. A battleship is a city
in itself-homes and workshops in
which the population must be drilled