NAVAL SENSATION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19268, 24 March 1928, Page 14

NAVAL SENSATION.

CHARGES NOT REVEALED. (BY CAELI—PRKS3 ASSOCIATIOM—COP I RIGHT.) (ATOTXALUH >SD *.Z CAB LI ASSOCIATION.) (Received March 22nd, 12.0 a.m.) LONDON, March 22. Lieut.-Col. U. M. Headlam, Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, answering a question, said that tho Iloyal Oak court-martial would be held at the earliest possible date. The Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean fleet would settle the charges iu public. Commander Bellairs: Will the officers go to Gibraltar not knowing the charges ? Colonel Headlam: IS'o. • Commander Rellairs: Then why not inform the House? Colonel Headlam: It never is the custom to reveal charges of a courtmartial. Commander lvenworthy : In view ot the extraordinary stories in the Press, ought not the whole'facts be available to the public at the earliest moment? Colonel Headlam: The Admiralty sees no reason why this court-martial should be different from any other. Commander Kenworthy: As we must go back a century to find a case of a rear-admiral being forced to haul down his flag, is not this more than an ordinary court : martial ? There is no question of fairness of the courtmartial. but it' the reference of the Court is restricted the matter cannot, properly be examined. Colonel Headlam: All this is as clear to the Admiralty as it is to you.