NAVAL DEFICIENCIES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3324, 31 October 1919, Page 8

NAVAL DEFICIENCIES.

WHEN WAR BEGAN. SIR PERCY SCOTT’S CRITICISM_ LONDON, Oct. 29. Admiral Sir Percy Scottis book on the Navy éondemns the Adxniriaity system whereby the civilian <~1»;-me-.nt exercises undue influence and offers no ixxqucmnonts to e:.-v~‘.")l‘isc and’ -)l'ig_il:u--ality. Overmuch rel tape v.'a._«; the cause of delay. p'.'('volll'illg‘ r:lp'rl and ndocisive action, hence the cunfmion at theoutbreak of w:Ll', fho lack of mines and Inilles‘.vuopers, and other pxotection againsf mines, and the great lack of a.llti-submax-£25.: protoc~ tion, there being no safe Im:'1m111- for the Grand Fleet.

Gunnery was c.~'}_)('L‘l:2H}‘ dcfecliv-:3. nnd also torpedoes. The Admix-:11 says ‘mg: on the 0u"?‘-l~.‘..7l!\' of war he offered his services to ilnpx'ov.\. '_:umlcry, but was told the matter was well in hand_ Eventually he was appointed gunnery advise: three months later. He mentions the delay in providing depth charges‘ as typical of the general mishandling of the subniarine menace. The first design was submitted in October, 1914, but was not realised until 1916. “