NAVAL POLICY ATTACKED

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 191, 9 May 1940, Page 9

NAVAL POLICY ATTACKED

Admiral Keyes’ Opinion SEA ASSAULT ON TRONDHEIM (Dy Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, May 7. Speaking in the House of Commons, Admiral of the P'leet Sir Roger Keyes (Conservative) said; “It is a shocking story of ineptitude which should never have happened. It is astounding that the Naval Staff would not realize that the attack on Namsos was doomed if German ships controlled Trondheim Fiord. I importuned Cabinet to let me take all the responsibility and organize and lead an attack. The Gallipoli tragedy has been followed step by step.

“Trondheim could have been captured easily if a few ships had entered Trondheim Fiord immediately _ the army was ready to eo-oi>erate. Naval officers have told me that there was no difficulty in entering the fiord, but that it was unnecessary, as the army was making progress, aud the Mediterranean situation made the risking of ships undesirable.” Sir Roger Keyes added: "If our sea power had been used vigorously aud courageously the Germans would have been in a most dangerous position aud would eventually have been defeated. ’Committees cannot wiu a war. Those responsible must be fully empowered to act without delays and conferences.”

Came In Uniform. (Received May 8, 7.5 p.m.) Sir Roger Keyes said that everything Mr. Chamberlain had said had strengthened his own contention that the capture of Trondheim was essential, imperative and vital. The naval hazards would have been trifling compared with those in other operations he himsolf had organized. Immediately the Norwegian campaign opened he had suggested to the Admiralty action on his own experience in amphibious warfare in the Dardanelles and on the Belgian coast.

Sir ’Roger Keyes explained that he came to the House in uniform because he wished to speak for the officers and men of the Navy, who were most unhappy. It was not their fault that the enemy was left in undisputed possession of the vulnerable ports and aerodromes. For nearly a month the enemy had been given time to pour in reinforcements and develop the air offensive which had had such a devastating effect on the morale of Whitehall. (Cheers.) “Ever since April 16 I had been urging the Admiralty to take more vigorous action in view of the Italian bluster,” he said. “I proposed naval cooperation by using old ships, the loss of which would not affect the Fleet’s strength.”