NAVY SECRETS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1919, Page 5

NAVY SECRETS.

MORE LIGHT ON JUTLAND.

JELLICOE AT A DISADVANTAGE.

gUNNERY NOT UP TO DATE.

Br Telegraph.—Press Asm.—Copyrljlit. . Received Oct 30, 6.5 p.m.

London, Oct. 28. Admiral Sir Percy Scott, in a book orl the Nitty, states that Admiral Lord Jellieoa had good reasons for not pursuing the Germans at Jutland, because the Grand Sleet was not properly equipped (for night fighting, while the German Fleet Sraa.

This was due to many years of a had system of administration by the Admiralty. Important papers took nearly B. year to circulate round the Department. One of the most important actions in the wax was delayed because papers were Jost for three months.

Torpedoes were so badly fitted that ,they went under the German ships. Only eight of our battleships were fitted with gunnery controls. Bad organisation permitted the enemy to escape to the Pacific and prey upon commerce, whilst the B» sunk at Coronel were sacrificed use they Were not fitted with gunnery vols. The Admiralty's delay in introducing jieptfc charges, which were recommended ia. 1914, involved the Empire in a loss (Df £200,000,000. ■ THE PERILS OF SCAPA. Sir Percy Scott went to Scapa in November, 1914, and Admiral Jelliooa told hitt that a terrible state of affairs existed. He said he was obliged to stay kt Scapa, but the anchorage was unsafe, and any night submarines might send the Grand Fleet to the bottom. Admiral Jellicoe went into the Jutland battle with only six ships completely fitted for director finding. Several ships were without primary armament, while shells and searchlights were inferior to the Germans'. The German guns had thirty degrees elevation, while outs had only fifteen. All our guns were outranged, and "we hadn't a dog's chance." if the Germans had had half a dozen men of the stamp of the British sublnarine «immanders the Fleet would have been destroyed early in the war. Bit Percy Scott discloses that he was offered the command of the naval attack; .OB the Dardanelles. TOO MUCH RED TAPE. Sir Percy Scott condemns the Admiralty system, under which the civilian element exercises undue influence and does not offer inducements to {enterprise and originality. There is too much rep tape, causing delay and preventing rapid and decisive vtioh, hence the confusion at the outbreak of the war. There was a lack of mines and mine-sweepers and other protection against mines. There was a great lack of anti-submarine protection, and no safe harbor for the Grand Fleet. The gunnery was especially detective, as Fell as the torpedoes. Sir Percy Scott says that, at the outbreak of the war, he offered his services j to improve the gunnery, and was told' that the matter was well in hand. Eventually he Was appointed gunnery adviser three months later.

He mentions the delay in providing depth charges as typical of the general mishandling of the submarine menace. .The first design was submitted in October, 1914, but not brought into real use till 1918. the Admiralty greatly missed Lord fisher's vigor after his resignation. ADMIRAL BEATTY'S WARNING. JIAVAL ECONOMY MOST BE WISE. NAVY ESSENTIAL TO EMPIRE. Received Oct.* 30, S.S p.m. London, Oct. 28. Admiral Lord Beatty, in a speech at the leather sellers' luncheon, declared that 4h» Navy must bear its share of economy, but the wisest economy was essential, for our future at an Empire depended upon tie sea. • Tb* Navy was responsible for vast lines of communication, linking the great Dominions with the Motherland, and it was our insurance, which could not be overlooked. The Empire would fall to the ground if the Navy was wiped out.— Reuter.