NUCLEUS CREWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 129, 24 February 1908, Page 9

NUCLEUS CREWS.

. . An incident at once suggestive aiid remark--'^blo: (siiys,' • thci'Standard' *s) • occurred re-cently.-,at Portsmouth,, a 'general: signal- be-i ing.'.made .by/ the . Commander-m-Cliief hero 'intimating', that the. Admiralty; had ordered: him.'to express' the "appreciation. l of my lo'rds at,' the -smarti and :' rapid . manner in" whichthe .had' ;i completed, for' sea' : on , * signal being" -unexpectedly - made, -;,tho Admiralty.'consi'deririg the conduct of:the officers .arid .crew most,creditable • and satisfact-bry.: • '

No one will deny, that'the tribute iras wo.ll deserved. ,The fact's aro those. : Earlier in: the . week ithe - Gyclops, repairing towing, the Kawnj^deotroyor,; to .I'ortsmouth," .arid.roff^BMehyJHoad/.inYrough'westher,- tho,: two>.V.eot'i'into /.difficulties! r". -Tho two Vrope parteu,; and .'tho ■! destroyer- narrowly escaped; c6miiig,':iiito collision with tho Cyclops. The''coastguards, alarmed :at 'What.- ■ looked like, the prospect' of a disaster,-wired-an urgent message!to Portsmouth for help to bo gent, and tho r Berwick/ orio of Itho.'crnisers 1 of; the Homo it'leofc, which v Tvas . lying «in. harbour, with only, a nucleus crew-011 board, was. ordered to complete for sea and go down Channel;" Thd-order 'was proinpt-ly obeyed,• and tho'Berwick got away tho same evening,' :Only- to' find that the 1 Cyclops Had masteredthe situation,''and ; was ; no'longer"m need of help. .' ■.:'i'h9. officers and'meii .of the Berwick, ili a' word," showed;' theraselvcs worthy ! of ' the .best traditions; of; tho Navy. ,»'• :: Btit'thei comment that levery one. is making is-this to tho Admiralty - theory, tho . "Berwick is l ready: for sea at :: a 'moment's' .notide. 1 : -If that theory is sound, what is there remarkable : about her - feat in ; ' getting ; out ', so promptly?' 'Why. was' the performance of ;a duty ;>vhich ' was ! 'not 1 only easy : for ■' lier,."but~ expected': from . her, • doomed /worthyof a general signal ospressing special' commcnda'-' i.tion ? Tho . universal query that follows 13 .this ; Is not tho Admiralty's action : a' practical admission of "The Standard's'" con-' tentioii as to. the danger -of tho "nucleus crew" .policy ? / ; ; ' : :