THE NAVY CHANGES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 306, 23 December 1912, Page 5

THE NAVY CHANGES.

A WARM DUEL

BERESFORD AND CHURCHILL,

FIRST LORD JTTSTTFESD.

(By Cable.-Press Association.—Copyright.)

LONDON, December 21

During the discussion on the circumstances of the resignation of Admiral Sir Irancis Bridgeman from the position of first Sea Lord of the' Admiralty, in the House of Commons vesterda'v. Lord Charles Beresiord, continuing his attack on Mr Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty), accused Mr Churchill of assuming executive as well as administrative functions. The same thing, he said, had occurred in connection with the Sydney Street riot, when Mr Churchill was Homo Secretary: and another instance occurred in connection with the recent naval manoeuvres, when Mr Churchill interfered and took charge of the operations. Air Churchill: That is absolutely untrue. No order or instruction, directly or indirectly, was sent by mc. Lord Bercsford: "Taking charge" is a naval expression which you probably don't understand. Mr Bonar Law ( Leader of the Opposition ) said that Sir Francis Bridgeman interpreted the first letter that he rereceived from Mr Churchill on the question of his resignation as indicating that it was optional for him to resign or remain in office. He replied that he was well enough to continue his duties. Then came Mr Churchill's second letter —a most insulting one —intimating that the resignation of Sir Francis had been already arranged. Mr Churchill read the whole of the correspondence, whereupon Mr Bonar Law remarked, "Had 1 received a letter like the second one I would have considered myself brutally ill-used." The subject then dropped Sir Francis Bridgeman had an audience with the King for over an hour at Buckingham Palace, regarding his retirement. Such audiences usually last about a-quarter of an hour. "The Times" declares that Mr Churchill's frank statement should prove conclusively that the subject has been overlaid by prejudice and confused by all sorts of unwortbv insinuations. The "Daily Mail" (a Unionist paper) says that Mr Churchill's speech has dissipated the suspicions as to his action in the matter. The First Lord, the paper says, dealt vigorously with Lord Boresford's insinuations, which, it. says, must be attributed to the imagination of one who has suffered disappointment rather than to real knowledge. Many other newspapers also consider that Mr Churchill had the best of the duel, and that his action was justified. Since Mr Winston Churchill has ooen at the Admiralty all the Sea Lords on the former Board have disappeared, and now one 0 f his own nominated Board has gone—at life suggestion. Evidently he means to be the —Ruler of the Kin;' Navy." it is saiil prince Louis of Batteuherg has great influence with him. :n:r| Prince Louis is admittedly a very ahhman. At the same time these kaleidoscopic changes are likely to shake the ron- | fidence of the navy, 'and Mr Winston Churchill is quite likely to find when he next asks officers to take a seat at the Board that he is being boycotted. Durins Mr Gladstone's Ministry of 1880 the late Admiral of the fleet. Sir Geoffrey Hornby, attempted to create a boveott. Tie asked all the officers likely to be nominated senior lord—and such are perfect!v well known in the service—to refuse office, and three out of four agreed. Sir Astley Cooper alone it. was who saved Mr Gladstone from lieing unable to nominate a Board. At that time the sea lords changed with the Ministry. Fortunately that bad custom ha? been dropped, anil the sea service is not supposed to have any knowledge of politics.