PROMOTION FROM THE RANKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 14, 16 January 1914, Page 4

PROMOTION FROM THE RANKS.

A writer in the Manchester Guardian says the experiment which the Admiralty are making of promoting

deserving men from "between decks

is now on the point of test. It will be remembered that when Mr Cnurchill outlined the scheme about a year ago he said the selected gunners and boatswains would attend a special course to fit them for watch-tak-ing duties. Ft is interesting to note that of the first hatch that were specially instructed in gunnery, torpedo, a-nd navigation all have passed, and are now appointed to various ships as mates, with the status ol officers. It has always been the contention of many soldiers of distinction that the army would profit very considerably if there was some such system by which deserving noncommissiond officers could be sure of the opportunity of rising to commissioned rank.- There is, however. always a group of conservative military reactionaries who oppose this suggestion. In the United States army a non-commissioned offie?r after two years' service can claim by right of regulation to he examined as to his fitness for commissioned rank. It is a sound contention that in this democratic age if the same system applied a far better class of recruit world be. attracted to the colors. The real evil of the British voluntary system, is that it does not furnish the prospects of a permanent and progressive career.