The English didn't know that fact and they took the visit as a special compliment.

Their old admirals were all greatly pleased, and I hear talk about that yet.

We ought to have two or three of our rear-admirals here on their fleet now.
Symington, of course, is a good fellow; but he's a mere commander and attache--not an admiral--in other words, not any particular compliment or courtesy to the British Navy.

(As soon as the war began, a Japanese admiral turned up here and he is here now.) We sent over two army captains as military observers.

The Russians sent a brigadier-general.