A large ship's commander was the captain's senior executive officer, with substantial responsibility for discipline and efficiency. Captains therefore had a voice in selecting that officer, and Hamilton reported that Dreadnought's captain and another captain both wanted Battenberg. Twenty-two commanders junior to him already held comparable appointments, contradicting the claim that he had jumped the queue. Hamilton stated that naturalized British subjects were treated alike and that appointments went to the most capable officer for the job. Continued objections nevertheless returned to Battenberg's German origin, followed by demands for information Hamilton said was available in the current Navy List. This hostility suggests that deteriorating Anglo-German relations preceded the later dreadnought-era naval race.
Chapter · 32:20-42:06
Choosing an executive officer amid attacks on nationality
Hamilton explains why captains wanted Battenberg as their executive officer and why naturalized officers were eligible on the same terms as other British officers.