The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 10. 1928. A NAVAL OCCASION.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 10. 1928. A NAVAL OCCASION.

The British Navy will be losing its right to be regarded as the Silent Service if there are many more incidents snob as the Royal Oak court martial in regard to naval etiquette, 'file position was rather unique finding the Navy so prominently in the limelight, and that in turn was probably the occasion for extra publicity meted out. The details of the enquiry were given in .such a full manner a.s to suggest

“nows” was at a premium, nr perhaps the ‘‘silly season" having arrived the pressmen felt the occasion had to be honoured. Tlie subject might well form the .substance for comic opera, and had Gilbert and .Sullivan been collaborating to-day, a second and more modern version of lI.MS. ‘•Pinafore” would certainly be possible. The gallant Admiral—an excellent type of tho old sea-dog—could have been jmurtrayeil to the author’s delight, for this is the age when a “big, big D” is permissable on the stage, and the Admiral evidently revelled in emphasising his point with language not usually heard in polite society. The Admiral is one of those who would prefer to call a spade a sanguinary shovel, and would he the clearer understood because of his longer expression. His opinion on jazz was more expressive than polite, though many will agree it was not far from wrong in its summing nil of the liberties modern composers are taking with music. The Admiral has set a .standard for lovers of good music and if they wish to express themselves adversely on jazz strains, they could convey their meaning hv remarking their opinion coincided with that of Admiral Colinrd. The subordinates who were found guilty of breaches of discipline will have the sympathy of many, though the world at large will he smiling at an incident so small growing to an episode so great that it has assumed a world record now and will go down in the pages of naval history. Some of the old shellbacks will lie inclined to think that the Xavv is not what it once was when through .such a channel as a court-martial the endeavour is being made to enforce a special degree of naval etiquette. But we must not judge the whole on this puny incident. This is the month of a great naval anniversary, the thoughts of which remind us of the sterling stuff the Xavv is made of, and how little form and ceremony enters into the case when deeds of daring do are to be done. Zesbrugge anniversary upsets all laments over this bloodless eourtmnrtial.