IMPORTANT NAVAL CHANGES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2943, 1 December 1916, Page 7

IMPORTANT NAVAL CHANGES

SIR JOHN JELLICOE TO THE ADMIRALTY SIR DAVID BMTTY SUCCEEDS TO THE COMMAND (By Telegraph—Press Association—O-pyright). Australian-New Zealand Gable Association. (Rec. November 30, 8.20 p.m.) London, November 29. The Honse- of Commons was crowded wnen Mr. A. J. Balfour, First Lord of the Admiralty, announced the app o iatment of Sir John Jellicoe (commanding the British Grand Fleet) as iirst Sea Lord at the Admiralty (vice Sir Henry Bradwardine Jackson), and 0 f Sa David Beatty (commanding the First Battle Cruiser Squadron) as Com mander-in-CHef of the Grand Fleet, vice Sir John-Jellicoe. Sir Henry. Jack Eon had .been appointed President of the Naval College at Greenwich. Other changes in the Admiralty and the naval higher command would be announced later. "This decision," he said, "was made some time ago, but the announcement was delayed- for military • reasons." , ; The Channel Raid. In reply to Mr. R. P. Houston,, Mr. Balfour said that the Vice-Admiral commanding at Dover reported that enemy destroyers on the night of the 23rd attempted to pass south inside the Downs. They came in contact with the Ram6gate patrol at dark, and the enemy made off before our vessels could engage them. .The last enemy vessel fired twelve shots at two armed * . drifters, hitting one and doing slight d amago. The destroyers did not enter the Channel. We still entertain hope that if the enemy enters tho Channel he will not get out without heavy disaster. Mr. Houston: "Does the Admiralty forget that attack is one of the surest forms of defence, and that we require ruthless fighting men at the Admiralty?" Mr. Balfour: "Those general principles are perfectly sound in the.abstract, but if it means that the Admiralty must use warships to attack batteries ashore ruthlessly, it is not a policy I would over be responsible for." Mr. Houston: "I spoke of submarines." Mr. Balfour: "We have not spared th 6 submarines when the chance came for destroying them." I ■ . Why Don't We-Destroy Zoobrugge? ' London, November 29. Mr. Houston asked why no effective measures had been taken to destroy Zeebrugge when monitors and'shallow water craft had been specially built for this work, and were available for op erations against this nest of small oraft. ■ Mr. Balfour refused to answer. "What tho honourable member has called a 'nest of small craft' is a naval base defended by powerful shore batteries." Mr. Houston: "Is it not a fact that the monitors which were built for this work were sent on a futile venture to the Dardanelles ?" Mr. Balfour: "I cannot discuss the Dardanelles." The announcement has been received with general approval. r ■ ' • SIR JOHN JELLICOE ALREADY AT WHITEHALL. (Rec. November 30. 8.5 p.m.) London, November 30. Sir John. Jellicoe has already assumed his new position at Whitehall. Sir Henry Bradwardine Jackson will bo invested . with larger administrative powers at Greenwich, particularly in regard to educational aspects. These . changes will obviate the necessity for a secret eossion. Admiral Sir John, Jellicoe in his forty-two years in the Navy has seen much sorvioe. He served in the Egyptian War of 1882, and was commander of the Victoria when she was sunk after collision with the Camperdown iu tho Mediterranean in 1893. During the Boxer rising he served in China and commanded the Naval Brigade dispatched to tho relief of the Peking Legations in 1900. At this time he also acted as Chief of Staff to Viee-Admiral Sir E. Seymour. Returning to, Britain, he was Director of Naval Ordnance from 1906 to 1907. In the latter year he was made a Rear-Admiral and appointed to the Atlantic Fleet.' Next year he became.a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Controller of the Navy. In 1910 came appointment to the reimmand of the Atlantic Fleet, and in 1911, of the Second 'Squadron of tho Home Fleet. In 1912, Sir John Jellico e became Second Sea Lord; but on the retirement of Admiral Sir George Callaghan'(by seniority) at the outbreak of the war, he became Commander-in-Chief. As First Sea Lord he succeeds Admiral Sir Henry Bradwardine Jackson, who followed Sir John Fisher in May last year, the latter having resigned as the result of the naval failure at tho Dardanelles. Admiral Sir David Beatty, K.C.8., M.V.0., D.5.0., the hero of the Battle of Heligoland (August 24, 1914), of the Dogger Bank (January 24, 1915), and of Jutland (May 81, 1916), is the youngest British Admiral, 45 years of age. He comes of a sporting Irish family, and was not originally intended for the Navy, which service he entered, as it were, by accident. He was fortunate, at the outset of his career, in being one of those officers employed in Lord Kitchener's expedition, to Khartum in 1898, and his keenness, fine service, and general efficiency secured his promotion to tho rank of . commander at the age of 27. He was favoured a second time by luck, which on occasion looks after the able, in that he saw war service in the c Boxer rifling of 1900, when he was wounded, and was promoted captain at the age of 29 (Nelson was captain at 21). He then served at the Admiralty under Mr. M'Kenna, when, he was placed on half-pay. He was reinstated by ■Mr. Churchill, and has'since been continually at work either in the naval administration or in command. Ho was promoted rear-admiral at the age of 39. PRESS OPINION ON THE CHANGE ("The Times.'') (Rec. November 30, 8.5 p.m.) London, Niwemh'or 29. The "Times," in the course of a leading article. _ says: "No living sailor could bring to Whitehall the prestige enjoyed by Sir John Jellicoe. He will i clear out all the cliques. He possesses the temperament necessary for the head of a great organisation. Sir David Beatty is tho embodiment of tho aggressive spirit of the Navy, and possesses the confidence of his subordinates. Such a combination cannot do everything in sheerblindness. We expect that all will be well henceforth. Our weakness is not in our soldiers and sailors, but tho real reforms are still to come. THE HIGH SEA PIRATES SUN SUPER-SUBMARINES FOR .OCEAN WARFARE. London, November 29. |> IS reliably reported that the German shipyards are concentrating on the Msstmction of ocean-going super-submarines, turning out. two weekly similar V» W5, in order to attack the British food supply, i