AT THIRTY-FIVE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 4 May 1931, Page 6

AT THIRTY-FIVE

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 t>f the lloyal Navy, writes Commander Daniel, D. 5.0., in the “Daily Mail.” The 180 lieuten-ant-commanders 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 iinjor 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-command-ers are promoted to commander and so removed from the roster of candidates awaiting advancement.- But ninety fresh names are added to take their place from the junior ranks. Thus for some time to come seventyseven per cent, of officers are doomed to see their naval career ended at about thirty-five, with several dreary years ahead to drag themselves out before qualifying for maximum pension. Out of the surviving twenty-three per cent, of the lieutenant-commanders 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. Once 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 prophet can foresee conditions twenty years ahead. The fashion of mammouth battle ships, 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 ’eachrd 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 dag 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 thirty-five and forty with a pension of about £3OO, to seek a new one without the opportunity of any special training! IN OTHER FIELDS The marvel is how many of them, whey 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 naval expansion takes place the rising generation will have careers as easy as the present generation of admirals, now at the top of the tree. 4 The lleet was rapidly expanding when their turn came to jump the fatc-

ful hurdles of promotion to commander or captain. While tliev 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 pincli froni the contraction of the fleet, at a time when it is harder than ever before to find an opening in civil life.