NAVAL SENSATION

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 41, 12 November 1907, Page 5

NAVAL SENSATION

1 AN INSULT. ADMIRAL LORD CBAS. BERESFORD AND SIR PERCY SCOTT. ' A CAUSTIC INCIDENT WITH THE SIGNAL FLAGS. THE INFERIOR MUST EXPUNGE. BT TELEGRAM— FBESS ASSOCIATION—COrtEIQHT. (Itcc. Nov. 11, 10.2 p.m.) London, Novomber 11. After a fortnight's hard manoeuvring in very trying weather, tho Channel Fleet returned to Portland to meet the Kaiser on his visit to Britain. Admiral Lord Charles Bercsford, by order of the Admiralty, signalled to the fleet to " paint ship." Thereupon Roar-Admiral Sir Porey Scott, commanding tho First Cruiser Squadron, signalled as follows to the captain of, the Roxburgh, who had gone to the firingrango for gun practico: " Paint work appears to be In greater demand than gunnery, so you had better come In in time to look pretty by the Bth," i Admiral Lord Charles Boresford at once signalled to the fleet that Rear-Admiral Scott's signal was contemptuous in tone and insubordinate, and must be expunged from tho signals of, Rear-Admiral Scott's flagship (the Good Hope), and of tho Roxburgh. Admiral Boresford also directed Rear-Ad-miral Scott to report by signals when those orders had boen obeyed. , Tho incident has caused much regret. Tho First Cruiser Squadron, commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Percy M. Scott, consists of six armoured cruisers, and is attached to the Channel F,lcet, consisting of fourteen battleships and three cruisers, and commanded by Admiral Lord Charlcn- William do la Poer Boresford. Lord Beresford'e flagship is the battleship King Edward VTT; Rear-Admiral Scott's is tho armoorod cruiser Good Hopo. The armonred cruiser Roxburgh is one of tho First Cruiser Squadron. Lord Charles Beresford has achieved distinction not only in war, but also in politics and in literature. A son of the fourth Marquis of Waterford, ho entered the Navy in 1859, beoame a captain in ISB2, and reached post rank in 1897. Ho commanded tho Condor at tho bombardment of Alexandria in 18S2; was in command of the Naval Brigade at tho battles of Abu IClen, Abu Ivru, and Metaminah; and commanded tho steamer Safia, which, went up tho Nilo to rescup Sir Charles Wilson's party. He represented Waterford in Parliament from 1874 to 1880; Marylebono from 1885 to 1889; York from 1893 to 1900; and Woolwich from 1902 until ho rotirod from Parliament in 19011 to accept a Naval appointment. From 188G to 1888 ho was a Lord of the Admiralty.' Before his appointment as Admiral' Wilson's successor in command of the Channel Fleet lie was Com-mander-in-Chief in the Along with Mr. H. W.-Wilson., ho wrote a "Life of Nelson," which was published in 1898; and ho has also written a book on "Tho Breaking up of . China." Rear-Admiral Sir Percy Scott, bom, on July 10, 1853, tho son of Montagu Scott, entorod the Navy in 18GG, and became a captain'in 1893. Ho served in tho Ashanti War, 1873-74; in tho Congo Expedition, 1875, gaining mention in despatches and special promotion; Egyptian War, 1882; South' Africa. 1899-1900, being created C.8.; and China War, 1900. Ho liasserved on the Ordnance Committee, on tho Committeo of Naval, Uniforms, and 'on tlio Naval Exhibition Committee. Ho is the inventor of tho night signalling apparatus now lined in tho Navy, ,nnd. of various appliances for improving heavy pun shooting. He also inventod the gun carriages which enabled the G-inoh and 4.7-inch guns to bo used in South Africa.