THE NAVY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18892, 6 January 1927, Page 11

THE NAVY.

| NEWS AND NOTES. REAR-ADMIRAL BEAL'S RETIREMENT. (7BOM O'JS OWN COBStSFOKDCKT.) - LONDON, November 27. The Admiralty announce that RearAdmiral Alister F. Deal', C.8., C.M.G., is placed on the retired list, at his own request, to date November 24th. As Rear-Admiral Real was borne supernumerary on the list of rear-admirals, there will be no promotions in consequence of this retirement. Rear-Admiral Beal, who is 51, relinquished command of the New Zealand Naval Station on August 10th, after three years there. Ho was formerly deputy-director of operations at the Admiralty. In the last war, R«u-

Admiral Beal was executive officer in the battle cruiser Princess Royal in

;he Grand Fleet, and after promotion

in 1915 was on the operations staff until February, 1918, when he took command of the cruiser Weymouth. He was made a C.M.G. in recognition of his services in command of this ship at the bombardment of Durazzo in October, 1918, and was gazetted a CB. in the last Birthday honours. It is a coincidence that the voluntary retirement of Rear-Admiral Beal should follow soon after that of RearAdmiral T. E. Wardle, since both have recently returned from Dominion naval commands, the former in New Zealand and the latter in Australia (says "The Times"). There is no significance in this, of course, as it has often been pointed out that the position of officers lent from the Royal Navy for service in the Dominion Fleets is in all respects equivalent- to that of those who serve continuously in the Royal Navy, with whom they are considered equally for promotion and appointment.

Of the officers who have commanded tho Australian Fleet since the war, Rear-Admiral John S. Dumaresq died shortly after being relieved; and his successor, Rear-Admiral A. P. Addison, has, since his return home, held a command in the Mediterranean Fleet. The predecessor of Rear-Ad-miral, Beal in New Zealand was Rear-Admiral Alan G. Hotham. who afterwards became Director of Naval Intelligence. It is quite hy chance, therefore, 'that the two who have returned fmm Dominion service this year should he retired without further employment after being advanced to flag rank. Admiralty Press Section.

The retirement will take place shortly of Commander A. A. Lovett-Cam-eron from the charge of the Press section of the Admiralty after the usual two vears. This naval officer was in H.M.S. New Zealand between 1912 and 1917, and he was in the Dominion with this battle cruiser. In the battles of Heligoland, the Dogger Bank, and Jutland, he was in H.M.S. New Zealand, and for his services at Jutland he was promoted to Commander in June, 1916. His appointment to the Press section of the Admiralty was made in 1924, in succession to Commander R. Henniker Heaton. In appreciation of his services in_ the lastnamed connexion "The Times" remarks: "By his urbanity, tact, and willingness to render assistance, he has earned the gratitude,, of those who have been brought into contact with him in the course of their pursuit of news or their desire to verify or eluoidate doubtful points in connexion with the publication of naval matters."