The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1919. THE BRITISH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1919. THE BRITISH NAVY.

It is probably safe to assert that there is no subject connected with the Empire which touches the people more than that oil the British Navy. Nor is this in any way remarkable when it is considered that on the Navy the safety and solidarity of the far-flung Empire depends. Greater Britain is essentially and of necessity a maritime Power, so that reliance on the Navy has become something akin to a fetish. We have come to regard the supremacy of the seas as the inalienable birthright of the citizens of the British Empire, and to rely on the Imperial Government ensuring that in every department of naval organisation and equipment there shall be an undoubted superiority over those of foreign Powers. For this reason the recent statement made by Admiral Lord Jellicoe that he constantly informed the Government of the Navy's needs and the supply of those needs became a question of money, will come as a distinct shock to the whole of the Empire. "Without knowledge of the exact nature of the needs to which Lord Jellicoe refers it is impossible to comment on the statement except on general principles, though the Admiral specifically mentions the fact that Ger- ; many had a superior armor-pierc-ing shell because she had the necessary steel. There may or may not be a connection between the .Question of money and thejjQS-

session of the necessary steel, but the probability is that these matters are quite distinct, for the reason that Krupp's have made the science of steel production for armor and projectiles a speciality, and Ormany has the control of raw materials particularly essential to the making of tempered steel of high resisting power. Probably the British authorities could turn out similar armor-piercing metal to that which Admiral Jo.llicoe mentions, but the inference is that they had not done so, or Germany would not have obtained superiority in this respect. It is a question of research and experiment, and it is quite likely that the Germans were not satisfied until they obtained what was superior to any steel produced by any other Power. Jt is disquieting, however, to find that in any one detail of naval equipment Germany had the advantage, and it is to be hoped that the Admiralty has taken the necessary steps to at least bring about an equality if not a superiority in armor-piercing shells. We are in the dark as to how long ago Admiral Jellieoe became aware of the disadvantage suffered by the British Navy as to these shells, but as he was First Sea Lord at the Admiralty from November 1916 to December 3917 he had ample opportunity for insisting on the provision of the latest and best known appliances being utilised. The inference to bo drawn from Lord Jellieoe's statement is that certain naval needs, of which he informed the Government, were not met because of the expense. It is extremely difficult to credit such a condition of affairs, unless the needs were nonessentials, for in connection with the Navy money has been no object in making it supreme, and we are inclined to think that the Admiral has not put the position in an impartial light, leaving inferences to be drawn on general statements that may be capable of more than one construction, 'it will be remembered that on November 26, 1916, Admiral Jellieoe ''struck his flag" as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet, being replaced by Sir David Beatty. In due time we shall know the true details concerning this important change, and then many matters that are now obscured will be made clear. It is a coincidence that there should appear, simultaneously with Admiral Jellieoe's reply to criticisms on his book, an assertion that about the time when Admiral Jellieoe, in the Jutland battle, headed the battleships from the enemy in order to avoid a school of torpedoes, that Admiral Beatty signalled to the nearest battleship of the division a suggestion that the Admiral should follow him in order to annihilate the enemy. It would be unwise to attach undue importance to an assertion the author of which is not stated—presumably a critic. Obviously the assertion is intended to cast a slur on Admiral Jellieoe and | to applaud Admiral Beatty for an alleged exhibition of either boldness or rashness that may have either led to disaster or success and it would be far more prudent to treat this anonymous statement as a mere canard until its truth or otherwise is admitted by Admiral Beatty. "What matters really is that no ex parte statements should be •allowed to decrease in any way our confidence in the Navy and those by whom it is led and controlled. No good purpose is served by raising controversies, or harping on errors of judgment. The many changes that have taken place at the Admiralty since November 1916, and especially the sweeping reorganisation carried out by Sir Eric Geddes, have all been directed towards securing greater efficiency in every department and more effective exercise of sea power. The Empire mav rest assured that neither money skill nor exhaustive research will be spared to ensure the absolute supremacy of the Imperial Navy' and though there may be now and again destructive criticism on minor matters, the Navy as a whole ranks higher than ever in lie e.ves of the people, and we mav '»e sure that nothing will be left ™<tone to make the equipment wcrtny ot the men and the ships that are the pride of the Empire. !