The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-04-22
BEATTY CALLED
NAVAL Hero Of
GREAT BRITAIN
Victories Raise Him to Pitch OF
Popularity Net Exce:!ed by
Drake or Nelson.
HOW fDAVY' HAS MADE GOOD
An !rishn2an, Born in England, Who
Married an American, Has Risen
to Eigh Command at an In
usually Early Age.
BY HERBERT TEMPLE.
inter national News Service.)
LOndOH-.sIhA Defender Of Drita

Londo1l.-'Ihe Defender Of Britain
that is the title sentimental and en-
thusiastic EnSlishmen are bestowine
On EiccAdmiral Sir David Beatty
professional infant prodigy. Long one
OF the most poDulaI-as he is the
Wealthiest-nan in theIritish navy
his two victories Of Helgoland blight
and the east coast raid engagement in
Which the Bluecher was sunk have
raised him to @ pitch in the civilian e
estimation which certainly was not ex
celied by Sir francis Drake or Lord
Nelson.
StIiled forever are the murmurs that
the Marshall Field millions which his
wife brought him had little too much
TO 90 with his astonishing rise in rank
1t IS not going too far to predict, too
that the place new taken at court by
Lady Beatty will affect favorably the
social position Of all Americans in
London
Now that "Davy' has made good
many are recalling the prophetic
words penned By F'ilson Young in
March, 1913. lie wrote:
David Beatty is too young to he
even name to the man in the street
but those who do know him look to
HIM for more than nama-for the
highest fame, il tine and the hour are
favorable. No enc Who knows Beatty
mas any doubts CT fears for him. He
will make good Perhaps there viii
be nothing Tor some years but brief
sentences in small type devoted to
naval Intelligence. But to such as can
discern his movements in that say
Keep your eyes on Beatty"
Wins Tvo Victories.
Great Britain 50 far has scored
three great naval successes; CT these
two were won by ships under Eeatty's
rand. II Sir John JelIico were injured
or otherwise incaDacitated for his high
office, British popular opinion would
clamor loudly that Beatty be put in his
place.
Sir David comes from famous
sporting family O. Wexford, ireland,
and his air and movement show bis
breeding. Ills step IS 1.-THE, and almost
Dliollko. lie gives the impression Of
restrained, wonderful energy which q
trained prize fighter exhibits on enter
ing the rinS. ca edge all the time is
Beatty. He Las a bulldog face, a frlt-
Ing face, which would attract attention
anywhere. Ills heed bears a great re-
senblaaca to Napoleen's. He resembles
EoAoPGIte, too, il his great staying
power. After seyel months Of work
n which he has spent two hours in all
with his family ard many times has
worked Fl hours q Gay, his grip on his
JED is as strong as ever. Like the
great french coIqueror, he seems i'm
pervlous to fatigue.
In sill another respect, his marvel
Gus rise to high command at an early
age, he brings to our mind NAPOLEON.
AlaXander, Hannibal and other great
military geniu5es. Beatty has been
successiTely the youngest commander
The Youngest captain, the youngest
rear admiral and the youngest yice-ad-
mIral IN the British naval service
indeed, when he was promoted to
the rank Of rear admiral on January
/, 1870, ct the age Of thirty-eigbt he
vas net only the youngest British rear
admiral Of his time, but the Youngest
On record. Nelson himself was not uro-
noted to rear admiral until he was
tilirty-niae. Today Beatty is forty-four
years CT age.
Ieatty's Unique Record.
Here IS tabular record Of his ca
reer: