SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED

Chronicle (Levin), 12 May 1947, Page 5

SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED

: Press Assn ,

Admiral's Comment Annoys Labour M,P.

By Telegraph

-■ Copyrighl

Eeceived Sunday, 7 p.m. LOXDOX, May 10, ; A sensational attack on Admiral Bir Geoffrey Layton was niade by a Oommorter, Captaiii .Julian Snow, who is a Government Whip, in a speech last night. Captain Siiowt said that Admiral Layton, who was about to retire, hau for some time been abusi'ng the Government. "I would like. to knoiv what disciplinary action is proposed in • regard to the Admiral's latest efforr which is-to state that the Xavy. does not like eonseription but that it is tlie Government of the day that orders it," he -said. 1 Captain Snow added that any admiral who criticised a Tory Government as Admiral Layton had criticis.ed the Labour Government, would liave receivea pretty short shrift. "This Admiral, however, received the taeit support of tne Conservatives in his abuse of the Laliout Government and it is time the matter was inquired into before his forniai retire ni ent. " Captain Snow also said: "Tones ought to understand just where their present abuse of their majority Press facilities and the Conservative opposition's attenipt to frustrate tlie Government from carrying out the Labour Party's election promises, are going to lead the country. I see some form or totalitarian state threatening. If the workers become c-onvinced by Tory activities that the party system won't worl', they may resort to attaining a Communist regime. On the other liana, if the Ton' Party should succeed witn its wealth and its Press, in seeunng the Government 's downfall, it will, in faee of the Communist tendency in tne .'ountvv, emerge as a neo-Pascist party.

There are already signs that A'lr. Churchill 's dramatic„abuse of the Government is fertilising the neo-Fascist seed which obviously lies in the Consercative Party." He added that it would seem thai past links between members of thc Conservative Pavtv and Fascist orgamsation, had not been flnally broken down. Admiral Layton, in a farewell speech to the ship's company of the trainmg cruiser. Frobisher, at Portsmouth on May 8, said the Xavy djd not like eonseription but the Government of" tlie day had ordered it and no matter what colour their politics, it was their duty to obey orders implieitly. The Admiral went on to say that before the war they had a long service Xavy but things were different today. Preyiously men went into the Xavy as a eareer. Tliev were happv and therefore eflicient which was-one of the reasons why Britain won the last two wars, Today they had national servicemen and althougli the vast majority were sensible f'ellovxa who made up their minds to enjoy themselves as much'as possible, there was a cerlain section which regardea the Xavy as their ehemy. They looked on the Xavy as a nuisance and made themselves a nuisance to officers aua chief pettv officers. ,ancl spent most oi their time in detention quarters. Admiral Layton later told an interviewer: "I am making no reply to Captain Bnow. I answer only to the Aamiralty — not to Labour Commoners. "