JUTLAND BATTLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1924, Page 1

JUTLAND BATTLE.

CiOVEKXOK-C EX EKAI EXIM.A IXS THE POSITIOX. WKI.I.IXCTOX, Aug. 1. In connection with calilegrams from louden, which have been published in the Xeiv Zealand Press this week, his Excellency Viscount Jellicoc, was asked whetlier lie would have any objection to stating the circumstances which led to the Admiralty account of the Hattie of .1 11 timid being referred to him for comment.

The Covernor-Genernl replied that he had no objection, as the'main facts were already known from statements made to the British Parliament. These facts were as follow: Shortly after tlie termination of the war. re-(|U,-sts were made in tile British Parliament for the issue of an account of tlie Hattie of Jutland. It was realised by the Admirality that some delay would necessarily he incurred in the production of so complete a publication as Sir Julian Corbett’s “Official History of the War’’ (then being written by him, with the assistance of naval officers, which, in one of the later volumes, was to include an account of the Battle of Jutland). Under the circumstances mentioned the Board of Admiralty. in 191!), appointed a committee of officers, presided over by Captain Harper, to draw up an account of this particular action.

On .returning to Britain in H.M.S X -ir Zealand, early in 1920. Viscount Jcllicoe was informed, of this, and, later, lie heard that it was proposed by tlie Admiralty naval stall' to make some alterations in this report. On impiiiing of tin- then Eirst Lord as to the accuracy of this statement. Viscount Jcllicoe was asked by him to read the report, together with the proposed alterations. He demurred to tin's, expressing the opinion that lie was satisfied as tn the competence of an independent committee, such as Captain Harper's, to produce it correct aeroiint, and considered it best, in the interests of historical accuracy, that I lie report should he published without amendment by any officer who was serving in tlie Jutland Battle who, un-

less Imm reports sent in at the lime, could only speak of what came under his immediate observation. and whose memory otherwise ol events at so great a distance of time might not he reliable. Viscount Jollicoo, however, was pressed by the Kit's I Lord to read the report. He did so with reluctance, and, as a result, objected to many of the proposed amendments. and again expressed his original opinion as to the desirability ot publishing this independent report unaltered.

Xo decision ol this point was arrived nt before the Unveriior-Ceureal left Britain for New Zealand, but tlie First Lord gave him an assurance that no alterations would he made in the original report without the proposed ami tulmcils being first rclcrrcd tn

Tin- Admiral)v. at a later date. dei j t!o.i iioi tii publish the listrju-f report ;it nil, mill, in place "I it, tlie present iii-coum! ut' tin* Inn I It* was driuvn nl>. under itit* aegis ut the .Naval Stull. 11 10 principal tiiliifi' ut tlmt "tall being nllicers who Intel served in tin l litt It lecriii'iTs during tlu> action. I'lli- tilll Inis l.ccn twice sent In Viscount .lel I iri ii ■ for his enmm-eitls. Un die lirsl occasion lie brought In the m>ini. ,| ill-., A•’ in i i';t 11 \ numerous in iieetii iieic' :i:nl misst nteinelil.-, licit li in tie,. narrative iiinl the diagrams, which hitter ilill'ereil ill iiitiny respects from 1 1 1, > liiirner diagrams. .Mmiy ot the inaccuracies in the inirriltivi' were lorreetei! :il the Admiralty, mill it was re-turn-d pr further comments. with n , <,11 1 • -1 tint! these shi.nlil he torwnrilei! I,V ,-.it||i>. Tile Atltniinlty, at the same time. oxprc"ci| thanks to \ iscount • lellinie lor having drawn atteiitinn to the t-rrol —. The whole ot these errors were not, however, corrected. mnl it wiK teiinil to lie impossible io comment limy on them by cahle. Ili> l-.xccllen-ev so informed the Admiralty in 0"ei'inher, ll'l!:!, coiiliiiing his eahleil crill- ,|, 1,, s i„ lew of the most important passages, ami statin.:' that 101 l remarks on tim remaining points coillil he sent by mail, if the delay were permissalile. This suggest ion was not adopted, however. publication having now taken place, together. apparently, with the , aided comment" and the Admiralty remarks thereon, which latter have not a- vet lie. n ec.mmitniealed to the (*nvi rnor-deiiei-al. The time iaken in the production of the narrative at the Admiralty lias re- . lilted ill its issue some months after the Volume 111. of Corhett's ollirial history, in which the dntland i is lies, -rilled, this ha vine been published at the end of last year.