CAREERS ENDED

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 May 1931, Page 9

CAREERS ENDED

NAVY. MEN’S PLIGHT. Surely there can be no other profession which regularly suffers such heavy casualties in its ranks as the executive officers of the Royal Navy (writes Commander Daniel, D. 5.0., in the “Daily Mail.”) The 180 lieutenantcommanders under the sentence of retirement under the latest “axe” now swinging over the Navy List are additional to the usual heavy wastage. Every six months a fresh page of the “Navy List” comes under review for the half-yearly promotions. The majority of the names are doomed to disappointment. At the present rate, on each of these occasions twenty lieutenant-com-manders are promoted to commander and so removed from the rostei’ of candidates awaiting advancement. But ninety fresh names are added to take their place from the junior ranks. Thus for some time to come 77 per cent, of officers are doomed to see .their naval .career ended at about 35, with several dreary years ahead to drag themselves out before qualifying for maximum pension. Out of the surviving 23 per cent, of the lieutenantcommanders who reach commander rank, one-half may be promoted to captain. Thus, contrary to general assumption, promotion in the Navy is not automatic until the rank of post-cap-tain has been attained. Opce the minimum sea time in that rank has been served there is nothing to stop promotion to rank of admiral.

HOW MANY WILL COMMAND?

But how many of each term of young hopefuls first donning naval uniforms as cadets are destined to command a ship, leave alone fly their flag? The proportion varies from time to time, and since it mainly depends on the building programme, only a pro-, phet can foresee conditions twenty years ahead. The fashion of mammoth battleships, commanded by one captain, administered by one “executive officer,” but served by a multitude of younger officers intensifies the competition to commander rank. Out of a term of seventy cadets who have reached the critical stage of eligibility for captain’s rank, seven were killed in the Great War,, and fifteen were killed or invalided, died, or resigned. Seventeen reached commander’s rank, of whom six have been promoted to captain. Twenty-six are on the retired list. Under prevailing conditions it seems, a reasonable guess that one of the six captains will finally fly his flag as an admiral, the remainder retiring with flag rank. What other profession is there where only one in seventy, judging by civilian standards-, attains success? Here about three-quarters—in fact the average—have to abandon their highly specialised vocation between thirtyfive and forty, with a pension of about £3OO, to seek a new one without the opportunity of any special training! The marvel is how many of them, when, given an opportunity, succeed •in applying their naval experience to useful account ashore.

Promotion prospects for future generations can only be judged by the probability of still further reductions in British naval armaments in, the light of France and Italy’s aloofness from disarmament treaties. If a navalexpansion takes place the rising generation will have careers as easy as the present generation of admirals, now at the top of the tree. The fleet was rapidly expanding when their turn came to jump the fateful hurdles of promotion to commander or captain. While they were leaping these fences with comparative ease, about double the number of cadets were being recruited to meet the needs of an expanding fleet. It is these , officers who are now feeling the pinch from the contraction of the fleet, at a time when it is harder than ever before to find an opening in civil life.