NAVAL REFORMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1541, 10 September 1912, Page 7

NAVAL REFORMS.

IMPORTANT CHANGES, DUTIES OF SEA LORDS MUCH ALTERED. A GENERAL'OVERHAULBy TclecraDh—Press Aesoolntlon-CoDyrleht (liec. September fl, 10.:i0 p.m.) London, September ft, An important scheme of Admiralty administrative reform lias been ollicinlly announced. A feature of the reforms is that cni'li member of the Admiralty Hoard will specialise. The First Sea I-ord will thus attend to organisation for wnr anil distribution of tho licet, nnd tho Second S«> Lord will be freed from administrative distractions and dovoto himself creative tasks and design work. Tho Second S?a Lord will be assisted by a now ollicer, a Director of Naval Kquipincnl, who will supervise tho equipment of. ships under construction, and attend to details of repairs and refitting. The First Lord will undertake tho general direction and supervision of all business relating to the Navy nnd political and broad questions. Tho memorandum explains that the title of Controller, as additional to that of the Third Sea Lord, will bo abolished, but while the latter will be restricted generally to tho work of design, all the factors contributing to design must bo within his control, to enable him to deal with the -wholo problem.

Armaments. As a -warship is primarily a gun platform, and ' scarcely anything connected with design can be considered apart from armaments, henceforth the Department of Ordnance and Torpedoes will bo transferred so far as material is concerned from the First to the Third Sea Lord. The First Sea Lord will bo responsible for gunnery and torpedo exercises,- tho tactical employment of air-craft, and all military questions connected with the foregoing-. Tho Second Sea Lord will supervise the 'personnel of the Fleet, and the Fourth Sea Lord the stores and transport. The Civil Lord will l>e entrusted with charge of works, buildings, and Groenwicli Hospital. An additional Civil Lord will supervise contracts and dockyard business, but general labour questions will remain under the Parliamentary Financial Secretary. The Permanent Secretary will deal with general office organisation and correspondence. The memorandum adds .that tho new system presents no practical difficulties, and is well understood by all concerned.

Director of Equipment, A second memorandum explains that tho Director of Equipment will bo associated with the direction of dockyards and the superintendent of contract work. Besides advising on questions arising with regard to buildings, alterations, and Topairs, he will constantly take stock of tho condition of ships. He will be empowered to confer with the 1 superintendents of dockyards as to details, informing the heads of other than the professional Departments on all matters of which they should be cognisant. Finance Committee. A third memorandum establishes the Finance Committee in a more formal and responsible basis. A circular letter to the Fleet abolishes the punishment 108 eighteen, and also substitutes for 10A less rigorous forms of punishment, including extra work. The letter prescribes greater supervision for youths under twenty in the f matter of night leave, and institutes an appeal for petty officers and men with grievances. Under the "10A" punishment the offender lost all privileges, and was kept continuously at work for fourteen days except during periods allowed for slesp.

PRESS COMMENTS. "TIMES" APPLAUDS CHANGES. FAi-REACHING SCHEME. (Rec. September 0, 11.20 p.m.) London, September 9. The "Times" praises Mr.. Churchill for Ms lucid and cogent memoranda, and. adds: The Admiralty often displayed a genius for effective administration and a. native aptitude for evolving new organs as circumstances require for its conduct. The changes now announced were in line with, this genius, which was a strong argument in their favour. The "Telegraph", states: Mr. Churchill has commenced an important and farreaching scheme calculated to strengthen the administration and fighting efficiency of the fleet. Experienced officers were dealing with professional matters, and Mr. Hopwood was acting as Admiralty buyer and business manager. Tho "Daily News" 6ays: The changes affecting the third Sea Lord are eouad, and should contribute to teh improvement of tho vital matter of construction wherein foreign competition was increasingly formidable. The "Chronicle" says: By spreading the labours of the board much moro evenly, the changes would make for greater efficiency. Mr. Churchill had clearly shown that he wns on the right road. The "Daily Mail" states. The reforms will improve the organisation and diminish the complexity of the Admiralty, and will undoubtedly "increase efficiency, enabling the First Sea. T-ord to devote the whole of his time to the problems of war which were more than sufficient for any ono brain.

ROSYTH BASE. London, September 8. The harbour at Itosyfli, where the Admiralty is constructing a new naval baso nnd dockyard, is about to be deepened.

LARGE ORDER roR OIL FUEL. London, September 8. The Admiralty has placed in Scotland an order for 200,000 tcii.s of oil fuel.

A Ttoyol Commission lo investigate and report on -tho supply of oil fuel for the. Navy wa? appointed in July last. The terms of reference were an .'follow:—"To report on the means of supply and storage of liquid fuel in peace and war, and its applications to warship engines, whether indiri'clly or by internal ronihnslion.' Admiral Lord Fisher was appointed chmrman of the Commission.

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