THE ADMIRALTY CHANGES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10523, 11 January 1912, Page 4

THE ADMIRALTY CHANGES.

A writer in the ".Daily Mail" of DeooipJkm' 2nd says:—"iJondon \v©ko ujp' with a shock on Wednesday morning to discover that on the previous evening it ihad been announced that three of the Iflour >Sea Lords of the Admiralty had retired, inchiding the First Sea Lord—''Tug'' Wilson— and all tlieir .places were being taken by new men. We were assured, of course, that this, drastic change had only Ibeen made ibecause it was .more # convenient (to do so' now than next spring, when Sir Arthur Wilson wouikl have to retire an the age limit. But tiler© is mare Ibehind it than this. Everyone believes that Mr Winston Churchill lias resolved on farreaobimg departures at the Admiralty. One of these, at.which I 'hinted a week or', two ago., is the installation of a- (naval general staff on tlhe lines of the general staff of the Army. Hie is also said to he planning certain material changes in naval construction —changes, it as ibelieved, that will reduce expenditure without lessening .efficiency. Mr Churohill has managed to -convince men of all classes (that Ihe is going to .be a strong Chief of the Admiralty. It is, !howl ever, jprobable that he found lie could carry his l iplians easier and better with new .men tlian •with the old naval heads, v Sir Arthur .Wilson retires amid universal good will and good washes. I shall not attempt to echo htere (anything of the rumours that Are (buzzing (around it-he clubs at such a time as this. Wlhen a great change lis suddenly 'made tlhe gossips let their tongues wag freely, and those who know least usually talk most."