THE BRITISH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 97, 10 September 1912, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

PROPOSED REFORMS. SEA LORDS SPECIALISE. IMPORTANT DEPARTURES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London. September 8. Tfcfr Admiralty has abolished number 10a punishment, and other administrative reforms are projected. The deepening of Ro6yth Harbor will be taken in hand eoon. A feature of the Admiralty reforms is that each member of. the board specialises. Thus the First Sea Lord looks after organisation for war and the distribution of the fleet, xhe second Sea Lord is freed from administrative distractions, and devotes himself to creative tasks of design, assisted by a new officer, the Director of Naval Equipment who will supervise the equipment •f ships under construction and the details of repairs and fittings. Receved 9, 10/20 p.m. London. September 0.

The First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, under the new scheme, will undertake the general direction and supervision of all business relating to the Navy, political and board questions. A memorandum explains that the title "Controller," as additions! to that of Third Sea Lord, is abolished, but while the latter is restricted generally to the work of designing, all factors contributing to designing must be within his control to enable him to deal with the whole problem, as a warship is primarily a gun platform, and scarcely anything connected with design can be considered apart from armament. Henceforth the department will exist. The ordinance and torpedoes will "be transferred, so far as material is concerned, from the First to the Third Sea Lord.

The First Sea Lord will be responsible lor gunnery and torpedo exercises, the tactical employment of aircraft, and all military questions connected with the foregoing. The Second Sea Lord will supervise the personnel of the fleet. The Fourth Sea Lord will have charge of stores and transports. The Civil Lord will be entrusted with the charge of works, buildings and the Greenwich Hospital. An additional Civil Lord will be appointed to •upervise contracts and dockyard business, but general labor questions will remain under the Parliamentary Financial Secretary.

The Permanent Secretary will deal ■with general office organisation and correspondence. The memorandum adds that the new ■ystem presents no practical difficulties and is well understood by all concerned. FURTHER MEMORANDA. Received 10, 12.35 ajn. London, September 9. A second memorandum explains that the Director of Equipment is to be associated with the direction of Dockyards Superintendent in contract work, in adrising on questions arising out of building alterations and repair; constantly, to take stock of the condition of ships, and to Ud empowered to confer with the superintendents of dockyards cn details and informing the heads of other professional departments on all matters whereof they should be cognisant. A third memorandum establishes the Finance Committee on a more formal and responsible basis. A circular letter to the fleet lias abolished certains forms of punishment, substituting less rigorous forms, including extra work. It prescribes greater supervision for youths under twenty. PRESS COMMENTS. Received 9, 11.30 p.m. London, September 0. The Times praises Mr. Winston Churchill for his lucid and cogent memoranda. It adds that the Admiralty has often displayed a genius for effective administration and native aptitude in evolving new organs as circumstances require for its conduct. The changes now announced recognise this genius, which is a strong argument in their favor. The Telegraph comments that the scheme is an important and far-reaching one, calculated to strengthen the administration and fighting efficiency of the fleet by placing experienced officers to deal with professional matters. Mr. Hopvvood will be acting Admiralty buyer, business Admiralty buyer, and business manager. The Daily News says that the changes affecting the Third Sea Lord are sound, and should contribute to an improvement in the vital matter of construction, wherein foreign competition is increasingly formidable. The Chronicle says that the spreading of the.labors of the board much more evenly will make for greater efficiency. Mr. Churchill has cleaTly show that he is on the right road. The Daily Mail says that the reforms will improve organisation and diminish the complexity of the Admiralty. They will undoubtedly increase efficiency, enabling the First Sea Lord to devote the whole of his time to problems of war, which arc more than sufficient for any brain.