ATTACK ON NAVAL OFFICER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 21 August 1913, Page 7

ATTACK ON NAVAL OFFICER.

CANADIAN SENSATION.

ECHO OF THE NAVY DEBATE

A'"CONCOCTED REPORT." By Telegraph—Press Association—Copy riff lit (Roc. August 20, 10.30 p.m.) Ottawa, August 20. Commander Roper, writing to Mr. Lomicux in refcrenco to tho latter's Parliamentary statements regarding lii s (Commander Roper's) report, in which tho pkus of tho Laurier Administration wero adversely criticised, states that there is no doubt that Sir. JJranieux had deliberately sought to misrepresent Mm. Commander Ropor regrets that Mr. Lemieux'a charges Uhat the report was concocted, and juado with tho object of getting his salairy increased, were made under tli'a sheltor of Parliamentary privilege, raid tliat, therefore, lie is not able to tako tho proper course to vindicate 'himself. Mr. Lemieux lias not replied. In may last, during tho Navy Debate, an attack was made by Mr. Lemieux on Coimintndor Itoper, who was lent by tho Admiralty to carry out tho Laurier naval policy. Mr, ITazen, Minister for Marino and Fisheries, had previously read a memorandum prepared by Commander Roper just before the election which condemned the Laurier plan of building ships and said that the ships would bo obsolescent when finished. Mr. Lemieux declared that tho memorandum was concocted, and created an uproar in tho House when ho stated that tho memorandum was prepared after the election and dated back. He said that Commander Roper acted in the way ho did in order to get an increase in salary. (Uproar.) Mr. Lemieux said he believed that the British Sea Lords knew tho circumstances and that Commander Roper would be dismissed. Mr. Hazcn vigorously defended Commander Roper. He said that Commander Roper in 1911 became very dissatisfied with tho way tilings were doing. His recommendations wero all pigeon-holed and his proposals negatived. Ho decided while the election was in progress to put his views into writing with tho hope that if Sir Wilfrid Laurier wero elected, it might result in a more vigorous policy, and, 1 if tho Conservatives won, it would show them tho true state of affairs. Admiral Kingsmill refused to,forward the memorandum, and it had been handed to him afterwards. He absolutely denied that the memorandum was concocted.