The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-04-10
BEATTY CALLED
NAVAL HERO OF
GREAT BRITAIN
Victories Raise Him to Pitch of
Popularity Not ExCelled by
Drake or Nelson.
HOW 'DAvY' HAS MADE GOOD
An lrishman, Born in England, Who
Married an American, Has Risen
to High Command at an IN
usually Early Age.
BY HERBERT TEMPLE.
international News Service.)

ANNNo x NANNsf
London.-'The Defender of Britain
that is the title sentimental and en-
thusiastic Englishmen are bestowing
on Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty.
professional infant prodigy. Long one
or the most popular-as he is the
wealthiest-man in the British navy,
his two victories of Helgoland blight
and the east coast raid engagement in
which the Bluecher was sunk have
raised him to a pitch in the civilians
estimation which certainly was not ex-
celled by Sir Francis Drake or Lord
Nelson.
Stilled forever are the murmurs that
the Marshall Field millions which his
wife brought him had a little too much
to do with his astonishing rise in rank.
IL Is not going too far to predict, too,
that the place now 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 Filson Young in
March, 1913. He wrote:
David Beatty is too young to be
even a name to the man in the street.
but those who do know him look to
MIN Tor more than a name-for the
highest fame, if time and the hour are
favorable. No one who knows Beatty
a any doubts or fears for him. He
will make good Perhaps there will
be nothing for some years but brief
sentences in small type devoted to
naval intelligence. But to such as can
discern his movements in that l say.
Keep your eyes on Beatty"
Wins Two Victories.
Great Britain so far has scored
three great naval successes; of these
two were won by ships under Beatty's
hand. If Sir John Jellico were injured
or otherwise incapacitated for his high
office, British popular opinion would
clamor loudly that Beatty be put in his
place.
Sir David comes from a famous
sporting family of Wexford, Ireland.
and his air and movement show his
breeding. His step is 1.-THE, and almost
birdlike. He gives the impression of
restrained, wonderful energy which a
trained prize fighter exhibits on enter
ing the ring. On edge all the time is
Beatty. He has a bulldog face, a fight
ing face, which would attract attention
anywhere. His head bears a great re-
semblance to NapUleon's. He resembles
Bonaparte, too, in his great staying
power. After seven months of work
in which he has spent two hours in all
with his family and many times has
worked "a hours a day, his grip on his
job is as strong as ever. Like the
great French conqueror, he seems i'm.
p%ervious to fatigue.
In still another respect, his marvel
Gus rise to high command at an early
age, he brings to our mind Napoleon.
Alexander, Hannibal n other great
military geniuses. Beatty has been
successfully the youngest commander,
the youngest captain, the youngest
rear admiral and the youngest vice-ad.
miral in the British naval service.
Indeed, when he was promoted to
the rank of rear admiral on January
1, 1910, at the age of thirty-eight, he
was not only the youngest British rear
admiral of his time, but the youngest
on record. Nelson himself was not pro.
NOTED to ear admiral until he was
thirty-nine. Today Beatty is forty-four
years of age.
Reatty's Unique Record.
TIarn &c n tabular roa.-I " -
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