The Daily News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1912. THE NAVY WAR STAFF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 105, 11 January 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1912. THE NAVY WAR STAFF.

The inimitable Gilbert once remarked that it was essential that one should stay at home and never go to sea if one desirtd to become "ruler of the .Queen's navee," and the fact that inexpert persons have from time to time directed the naval policy without all the expert advice available suggests that the old .stop-at-homes did something more [dangerous than "polishing the handle of the big front door." Mr. .Winston Churchill is described as the Admiralty "new broom," but it is riot at all likely that this'exceedingly busy young man fired the old Admiralty Board into outer 'darkness at one fell swoop "off his own bat." The chief point of interest, however, is that he has done so, and that he is gathering around liim as advisers in a most ticklish business men whose knowledge of sea fighting, is of to-day. The navy man of twenty-five years ago would be nonplussed to-day, and Britain is to be advised in naval matters by men with the brine on them but not pickled. The Admiralty War Staff, which, we are told, will act as a staff would do under the orders of a general in the field, has been selected from active naval men of marked ability and without barnacles on them. All the new sea lords have been selected not only because they are modern, up-to-date, brainy men, but because tliey are absolutely opposed to any apologetic decrease in preparation or efficiency. The new Board has been accepted in official and general circles as excellent. There have, of course, been heartburnings and feminine disappointments, but, on the whole, from a close perusal, of Home papers, the selection has given satisfaction. Admiral Sir F. Bridgeman, who will be chief naval adviser, is considered to be a remarkable organiser and leader. An admiring newspaper, detailing his career and commenting on his service as Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, calls him "the Kitchener of the Navy." But from lack of the werk for which the navy was created, it is, of course, impossible to accept any suggestion that an unbloodied man is a new Nelson. Prince Louis of Battenberg, it is said, would have been just as good an admiral if he had never' been a Prince, the assumption being that Royal blood is no handicap to naval fame. At. any rate, this princely new member is credited with beinir up to the moment as a navy man. When he was Director of Naval Intelligence—an extremely important and onerous position —he is said to have distinguished himself, by his marvellous grasp of detail and the assiduity with which he tackled his job. Rear-Admiral Briggs remains at the Admiralty and is now Controller, jo

that the new Board will not be new all over. A London paper last year had an article by a naval expert in which it was stated that the chief characteristics of Admiral Briggs were his wonderful business acumen and his absolute lack of what people call "nerves." Captain W. C. Pakenham is the fourth sea lord, and is the only one of the bunch who has seen modern naval engines of destruction at real work, for he was present at the battle of Tsushima, a remarkably vivid piece of fighting, and a contest in which the Japanese faithfully carried into practice the lessons learnt from Britain. The new Board will advocate reforms—that is what it is for. It is believes t'hat "Jack," a term which.may include sailors who are badly-paid' specialists in any one of a hundred trades, will get a better deal. It is to be remembered that "reeking tube and iron shard" are as useless as a wet mop without the lower ratings of the Navy, that there is no brand of man who risks so much and so cheerfully as the men of the.Navy, and that as the Navy increases in strength, it must necessarily gather in more of the old fighting material. The service is voluntary and Britain does not force any man to join it. But it will become increasingly necessary to make it more attractive to the lower ratings, on whom depend the prestige and strength of the Navy and the safety of every outpost of the Empire.