Needed More Than Warships.

New York Times 100 years ago today, December 26, 1912:
    The letter to The Times this morning from Secretary Dadmun of the Navy League of the United States presents an issue of reform. Admiral Nelson reached his post by the rule of seniority. But Nelson was a Captain at 20 — "the merest boy of a Captain I ever saw," wrote the Duke of Clarence, afterward King William IV. — and he became Rear Admiral at 39. Under rules now obtaining in the American Navy, he could never have fought the Battle of the Nile nor run up that spirit-stirring signal at Trafalgar. Instead of dying gloriously at 47, the greatest of all fleet commanders would have achieved his rank at 60, and retired at 62, after a slight experience, with highest pay.
    England now reaches down its naval list and picks out the young officers to be promoted. That method engenders hatred and heartburnings, but really trained flag officers are needed, inspired with the youth and zeal of Nelson. It may have to come in our own navy unless some better expedient is hit upon. The Navy League proposes what it believes to be a better way. The Administration's Personnel bill would follow the German example of promoting all officers after stated terms in each grade, and of weeding out and retiring the least efficient in the higher grades, beginning with Lieutenant Commanders. From those that are left the Department may select the best for duty. The retired and able-bodied officers would form a reserve in case of war, and at no greater cost to the naval establishment than is now imposed by keeping the best and the poorest, promoting all to the highest rank to serve briefly without experience, and then retiring them with the highest pay.