BRITISH NAVY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1912, Page 7

BRITISH NAVY

THE ADMIRALTY REFORMS FURTHER DETAILS NO PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES.

By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. LONDON, 9th September. Further details of the Admiralty reforms are available. Under the new arrangement the First Lord of the Admiralty undertakes the general direction and supervision of all business relating to the Navy, political and Admiralty Board questions. A memorandum explains that the -title "Controller" as additional to that of Third Sea Lord, has been abolished; but while the duties of the latter are restricted generally to the work of design, all the factors contributing to design must be within his control to enable him to deal with the whole problem, as a warship is primarily a gun platform, and scarcely anything connected with design can be considered apart from armament. Henceforth the Department of Naval Ordnance and Torpedoes will be transferred, so far as material is concerned, from the control of the First to that of the Third Sea Lord. The First Sea Lord wiil be responsible for gunnery and torpedo exercises, the tactical employment of air craft, and all military questions connected with the foregoing. The Second Sea Lord supervises the personnel the Fourth Sea Lord stores and transport, and the Civil Lord is I entrusted with works, buildings, and j control of the Greenwich Hospital. The additional Civil Lord will control contracts and dockyard business, but general labour questions remain under the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary^ The Permanent Secretary deals with geueral office organisation and correspondence. The memorandum adds that the new system presents no practical difficulties, and is well understood by all concerned. REASONS FOR THE CHANGES. LONDON, 9th September. A second memorandum explains that the Director of Equipment will be associated with the Directors of Dockyards and the Superintendent of Contract Work in advising on questions arising out of building, alteration, or repairs. He_ will constantly take stock of the condition of ships, and is empowered to confer with the Superintendents of Dockyards on details, informing the heads of the other professional departments of all matters of which they should be cognisant. A third memorandum establishes the finance committee on a more formal and responsible basis. PUNISHMENTS. A circular letter to the fleet abolishes the punishment 108 (18), and substitutes for 10A less rigorous forms of punishment, including extra work. It prescribes greater supervision of youths under twenty in the matter of night leave, and institutes the right of appeal by petty officers and men who have grievances.