The normal pay of petty officers, according to class and length of service, runs from 17s. to £2 a month, with allowances extra.
Warrant Officers.
Warrant officers draw from £3 to £5 a month, with numerous allowances.
Allowances to the men include clothing, or money for clothing, etc.
Altogether the Japanese sailor is very well paid. In our naval ports he is looked on as something of a Crœsus. He spends his money freely, as all sailors do, and his purchases run to practically everything, from top-hats to trinkets, and heavy technical books to musical instruments. Many of them talk English, and still more are able to read it, and these are prone to buy books. It is quite a common thing for them to tender five-pound notes in payment; but further particulars of this sort will be found under the head of [Personal Characteristics].
RETIREMENTS, PENSIONS, ETC.
As already stated, the retiring age (nominally) of a sub-lieutenant is 42. Other officers are retired pro rata up to 65 years of age for vice-admirals.
Officers of good conduct are promoted on retirement as a rule. Pensions vary from a minimum of £20 to £76 per annum upward in each case. In the admirals’ ranks, the minimum ranges from £105 to £150 per annum. There is no exact maximum.
Intentionally or otherwise, there is one excellent thing that obtains in the Japanese Navy. By the system of selection of captains to be admirals the “duffer officer” has little chance of blocking the way of better men. He, however, as a rule is ready to recognise his own shortcomings, and it is not at all uncommon for such officers to exhibit their patriotism by retiring to make room for those who are likely to do better than they. It is only in the Japanese Navy that this happens: and it is in very marked contrast to certain other navies.