THE KING AND THE NAVY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 207, 21 August 1908, Page 4

THE KING AND THE NAVY

WILL HE INTERVENE! (From a Press Correspondent.) London, June 111. Humours are ailoat that tilings are not what they should be in our Nav A special correspondent of a Sunday pape.r says: '■ There is a strong probability that before the summer is over the King will turn his attention to discipline in the Navy. At present it is in a ba<l way, jnost of the trouble being not in the lower ranks, but in the higher. The Beresford-Scott incident is aoi example. Sir Percy Scott is one of the ablest officers in the Fleet, and the general public have the highest opinion of Lord Charles BeresfoßT. The fact that the two oilicers could not sit together at a public meal is not denied, and all communications pass between them in writing. That matters have not been handled in strong fashion is due to the misfortunes which attended Lord Tweedmouth's rule at the Admiralty, and there is no prospect that things will improve under Mr. AlcKenna. It is notorious in the service that a certain lleet was cut down because it, was impossible to give control of a laige numlier of vessels to the admiral who was to command it. Even the stokers know the reason, and regard their commander accordingly. . In case of war he would be shelved at once, doubtless greatly to the astonishment of the public, who have no idea what is going oil. .Luckily, the King is alive to the situation, ami will deal with it in his own way. Under the Constitution he remains emphatically the head of the Navy and Army, and can exercise very considerable powers. Later in the year, when he will be at (..'owes, and within easy reach of Portsmouth, the Navy will come under his attention, and some ol the dilVerences between high oilicers will have to be composed ill hot haste if worse is not to befall tlicm.''

A naval correspondent of the Daily Chronicle writes: " AYheii Admiral Sir Reginald Custance left his, flagship, Ii.M.S. Hiliernia, to proceed on shore, Lord Charles Beresford issued tlie following order, ''Ships are to turn the hands up as the Admiral passes through the lines; they are to salute liiiu witli three cheers.'" The correspondent asks what is the Xavy coming to? "Sir Reginald Custance is the author of a book expressing unbounded contempt for the "policy, and dislike of the reforms, introduced by the present Board of Admiralty. Compulsory cheers and compulsory decoration of houses are characteristics of Russian life; but to compel ships' crew» of the British Navy who are loyal to the Board of Admiralty to cheer Admiral Custance is indefensible. After ordering Sir Percy Scott not to address him except in writing, Lord Charles Beresford's order to the flood Tlope to cheer Sir R. Custance, for whom limited enthusiasm is felt, is an error of taste. 11l view of the Channel Fleet's visit to Norway, i. is desirable that the feud between til' 'wo Admh'als should come to an end"' I ordins 10 "!■' • '".I land "f !''l "" ~!• Of' I .V 1). •• • » • •>••»!•« 1 ...(is. ■ 11(1 e'.F - -lip ,• iii.tJl- i'i i'i- ■ ' ter ''or I - -' 1 'in 1 - it' l '-va i : , !m ' wori'i, I' is ai" "m«lv which ae- »■: *ll v rlostrovs the gores. vitalises the

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