JUTLAND “BLUNDER”.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1921, Page 5

JUTLAND “BLUNDER”.

THE HARWICH FORCE. WHY IT WAS RECALLED. At various times during the controversy on the Battle *>f Jutland, allegations have been made regarding a “blunder” committed in the orders to the Harwich destroyer force. Although it was not definitely stated as such, it was probably the .disposition of this force which was referred to by Lord Alfred Douglas’s sensational charge regarding the presence of a German influence at the Admiralty. The despatch and recall of the destroyers was “revealed” a few weeks ago by Admiral Sir Percy Scott in a speech in Loudon, and a reply by Mr. Archibald Hurd was published in the Daily Telegraph. Sir Percy Scott stated that “when the German -fleet was demoralised, a cloud of destroyers started out to administer the coup de grace, but unfortunately the Admiralty had a wireless installation, and recalled them.” The Admiral added that “somebody had committed a terrible blunder, and it was not Admiral Jellicoe.”

This incident, writes Mr. Hurd, was widely known soon after the battle was fought. On learning that the British and German fleets were engaged on the other side of the North Sea, Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt left Harwich with all htk, available destroyers. At that time the Admiralty had little news of 'what was occurring off the Jutland coast. They knew that the two fleets had met. but not the result—in fact, very little intelligence had been received, and they assumed that Admiral JellicOe had with him an adequate number of destroyers. The Admiralty determined not to denude the East Coast of all mobile forces at this critical juncture, lest the enemy should have sent forth the High Sea fleet as a feint to distract attention from some other movement across the North Sea, whether ah invasion or other offensive action. There was no absolute knowledge at the moment that the whole strength of the High Sea fleet was with Admiral Scheer, and the recall of the destroyers to Harwich was therefore a precautionary measure in view of possible eventualities. No official explanation has ever been given of the incident, but it has always been understood that these were the reasons which prompted the wireles.3 message recalling the Harwich which were eventually despatched to sea early on the morning of June 1.

In hds hook, “The Grand Fleet, 191414,” Lord Jellicoe, after describing the Battle of Jutland, which was fought on 31st May, refers to the matter in these terms:—“The Harwich force, under Commodore Tyrwhitt, had been kept in port 1 by Admiralty orders on 31st May, and was despatched to sea on the morning of Ist June, when I was informed that it was being sevt out to join me and to replace vessels requiring fuel. ....At 10.40 a.m. I had reported to the Admiralty that I did not require the Harwich force. I desired Cdniirtodore T)Whitt to strengthen the Marlborough’s escort (tlfe Marlborough had been torpedoed), and told him 1 that I did not need his fehips. They would have been of great use at daylight on Ist June had they been on the scene at that time, and it is needless to add how much I would have welcomed tfffe participation of the Harwich'force in the action had circumstances admitted of this.” The Harwich force of destroyers was under Lord JelHcoe’e orders’ eSfiy in the war, but, at his own request, in view of hi 3 heavy responsibilities, it was transferred to the Admiralty