NAVY'S GREATER MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 19, 22 January 1916, Page 9

NAVY'S GREATER MIND.

iX)RDr BEEBSFOEb; pHif.', . -:'" >THB GRAND ELEETiV .VifV':' ,' ■ tributes a> - passage to an, interesting ;• ■brochure entitfed ""WitiiU ■ Sleet," from-the pen of Mr. L, Ctfpe. Cornford, which has£ just-been .published by Williams' and NorgateV : Lord Charles. saye:: —^'..V/VV.i" - ..■".>.:•..• .'■' . ' '-,■-. "TheGrand OFleet- is at present endur-i ..ing' a'"%eary 1 md -■eeaeeless'-'vigil,; and steadily.', going ' 'through;' the routine' ,of sea. service,; /wfeose monotony is 'qnljr •relieved, by- the hope.- that, sooner; pr ;later ,'Will;comethe opportunity to ;proye that, in the day of trial, British.naval courage,, naval training, and naval efficiency, will achieye'victory^ : . > ' '''''.';.".}.■ j ' "■'■ , ."Upon' the; result of,"the; action, on; ijhiit I day" "'hangs'!' the- fate ''not : .3ralv,. p£'>fo,Ur hundred million British-ehbjects,.'hut the.'fate' ojE'the rest' of' •the; civilisedworld!'. ':'.' v.-i." '.■'.,'■,'-/'•'':!•.■..-.■:' : "Therefore it is that-tJie-Heet-is held ready., for' instant action, and ~it& Wit-., ward. - semblance, ie • -changed 'from; that holiday aspect , -with which; the public are .chiefly, familiar _ to :the: "fightirig ■trim, descriheg..,!in the^^'following pages': of this little b00k.'... ~5: " !;',.4 ,v ; >i- :;,: " "It was-well .for the counfiry 'tnatf, tVo'i .'years.. before the outbreak' of;hostiilitiee; the" War Staff charged •witti. l -the duty of war, was- inslStuted. afr: ;tfie Admiralty. ■ hind^'tfe" panoply of war, unseen.j<yet; neverrout..of in'ind, lies.the iminenseiand' complicated eystem..of organisatibn! by r which'alone .'success can. be achieved.liji war._ "";■■•" '•■ '-■' •■ . • ''-^ii li&H the finest, organisation mustifailr unless there exists a perfection of. executive- action,-carrying the 'organisation into'- effect. That consummate 'skiU in; 'esecutive'; '''action - which' 'is .tifjed. 'jin;: the, Fleet: is the riiesult' of j the ■greater; mind of .the 'Navy...', -For the mahy- generations -of;. seamen, who strove ; duTih* r thei"r:' make the."service haye;created;a body of thought, of tradjjtjpn, tion which-, is ■^e.Jnherit^nce,, : j the Navy of to-day, aid which, may-ibe- calledthe : Greater Mind: " ihiividuals,"fbr the Navy ie the ws'rk no one .man; and it is distinguished by the qualities of tact, justice, good comradeship, 1 and'condemnation Of ■error, tor getfier'with 'appreciation i( of dirtj; well done." ■■ , '..],' 1 .-,...-.-' , 'T '"'.'?; : ~i~]:\'£.■•;■,■.'• ■'• -'■;' - —i£EU-islthe''Greai'et-Mina-oCuieijfaT?ji. which;" has-: gained:, thp of-the ;eea'. *" ;- '"■""•"" <r -"" , ""■" ■■'*•-'"'

"That 'the trade' routes "of 'the Empire ;wefe left largely unprotected before the war was not the. fault-'of the: Navy, but of thcee who refused to lieteh- to the Navyi' •'"' That ■. disaster JwaS escajfiea 'wae doe. to the profound initial .error ofi the* German..military,'. antlijOiitT^a,...wiici,.jnegj> lected to use the means at their disposal to cut the trade routes until too iaie. "The Navy desires nothing but to be left to do! its own. work in. its-.town way, governed and guided by naval authority. The jSavy wants no advertisement,, and withdraws Kvith an eciual 'aversion from' the praise and tiie-igno-runt. By- deeds 'fte-inay .Snbw.it; ' ' "And with, ; the : NaA'y, let •us thenceforth;'associate the ■Mercantile-Marine, whose achieverae.nts, d,urnig , " war have earned the admirattioa of • the natioiuf , : ,-..;.£,,? V^,-J, ~-j.... ■ . -''.' ; ; l . •