A BREEZY ADMIRAL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1915, Page 6

A BREEZY ADMIRAL

"BARGING ABOUT THE NORTH SEA" Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty, speaking after his wife had opened' a naval institute, said: — "More than a year ago we started this war in the Navy with a whoop of joy. Wo were at last to put to the proof the weapon which we had spent many weary years in perfecting, the weapon which many thousands of distinguished men had given their lives in making efficient, and we congratulated ourselves upon the opportunity which was thrown into our hands to prove to t/; world that the British Navy was an absolutely incalculable factor. "We started full of promise of what we were about to do, but the promise has fallen away. We thought that we were going out to follow in the footsteps of the heroes of one hundred years ago, but what has been the result? "We have barged about the North Sea (laughter)—missing mines and dodging submarines, and our patrol vessels linvii kept our harbors intact." In the meantime they had been able to read in the. newspapers the glorious deeds doiie by our fellows all over the world. He thought every naval officer would agree with him that in such circumstances the cheerfulness of the men bad been utterly wonderful. (Cheers.)