SOME NAVY NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 98, 22 May 1909, Page 3

SOME NAVY NOTES

TlUS'i.iS KVEIIV UIUTOX U\'(HIT TO KXOW. Kvery has of late l>een thinking very gravely ahoitt tile Xavv; and, while he knows how vital' it is that we shall keep the eoininniid of the seas, possibly lie may not know very much about the Navy' itself. For this'reason, if for no other, the publication of a handbook ,<ueh as •■The ABC of the Royal -Navy" is especially welcome I says ••Answers"].

The average Britisher is so deplorably ignorant* about the Navy hv relies on for protection that he should lie interested to leant one or two elemental'!* facts from this "ABC."

In the lirst place, the word "Xavy'' does not necessarily imply power or numerical strength. It just' ansa collection of fighting -hip> of every class. Thus Bulgaria, possessing one or two gunboats* and a handful of i-iver torpedo craft, refers to her "Xavy*' with as much dignity as we speak of o'urs. Our Xavy is divided into four main fleets—the Home Fleet (the premier defensive force of the-Empire', the Channel Fleet, the Atlantic Fleet, midline Mediterranean Fleet. These are composed of every type of naval unitbattleships, cruisers, destroyers, etc.

Britain's battleships such as the Dreadnought—form the first light in--line of her sea power. Their business it is to meet and to engage, and all sea strategy is shaped to .'bring about this final result on the most favorable terms. Not that meetings between hostile hattle.sliips must be decisive. ■ -But' when they hayc been decisive, and one side has no more effective battleships left, then the sea power uf that side is hut as a broken reed,

Of all warships, the cruiser lills (he most varied role. It is her business to stop and light when s'he can. and to run away when she can't. In "little wars" she is employed almost exclusively, for to use -battleships „ii such occasions would he too prodigal an expenditure. The cruiser is the policeman of the seas the eyes of the licet, the scout, and. although s'he cannot hope to light the battleship, she may yet monopolise the time and attention of that unit in a very embarrassing degree. Torpedo tactics are known in naval circles as '■mosquito lighting." because the duty of the destroyer is to sting and lly away. "Caution and stealth*' is the first precept instilled into the voting naval officer who attend? an histnicI tional enurs'c in torpedo'warfare. ti|e | "ABC" tells us, though no hard and | fast rules can be laid down. Success depends mainly on opportunity, initiative-, and resourcefulness.

The personnel <n the llriii-h Xavy is liiade up of nllieers, seamen, ciiirinc-riiom ratings, sinkers, and marine;.

The highest rank U dial nl' Admiral of the Fieri, with pa y at the rale of

Clin day, mid allowances when on active employ totalling as miieh more. Fob lowinjr in the order of precedence are I he ranks of Admiral. Vice-Admiral, and Hear-Admiral. Either of Hie first two may command an entire licet, lint the last seldom commands anything beyond a division or a squadron. An Admiral's Hag files at the inulnniast-heiid of his ship, and consists of a red cro.--,-, on a white ground.

Next comes- the Caplain, with about -CI 10s a day. and after him the Commanilei. with about CI ss. Although Hie Captain is in supreme command aboard his own ship, he is litlle ill evidence. The daily routine is supervised by Ihe Commander, in whose bands really resin the responsibility for the discipline and efficiency of the'ship. The First Lieutenant (17s) is a busy officer, ■whose functions are as multifarious as those of the Commander. He does much in particular, and everything in general, towards the maintenance of order ami smartness in carrying out the routine of the ship's dally life. I The above is but one corner of the bird's-eye view that may be obtained i from n' perusal of 'i'lie' ATM' of the .Royal Navy." ft is a book no Britisher I should be without.