JUTLAND DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 129, 3 June 1927, Page 7

JUTLAND DISPUTE.

Admiralty Bine Book Issued. CHRONOLOGICAL BECOED ONLY LONDON, June 2. The narrative of the Battle of Jutland, which -was officially published in 1924, has now been followed by a Blue Book, entitled "Republication of the Record of the Battle of Jutland." The volume was -prepared by Captain (now Rear-Admiral) Harper and other officers, by direction of the Admiralty in 1919-20. Criticism of the delay in publishing this record was recently revived by the publication of Admiral Harper's book. "The Truth About Jutland," the object of which, the author avows, is to •"scotch the lepend of the incompetence of Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Jellicoc." In the words of an explanatory note by the Admiralty, the Blue Book is "nothing more than a record, in chronological sequence, of the movements of the various British squadrons, and represents the first staee in the preparation of the history of the battle."' "It must b<? clearly understood." the note continues, ''that this is not to be regarded as an official report, and that the object of Their Lordships in now authorising the publication of the record is to dispel the idea that any mystery, sensational evidence or criticism, is contained in it."'

The naval experts who have contributed to the Blue Book confirm Admiral Harper's narrative. They merely chronicle the event* in technical language which is unintelligible to laymen and contains nothing that is new to expert*. J At the same time the record would j have been exhflaratinp in 1919, when ] much of the information given had not j been published. I It is generally agreed that the sipnifii cance of the report lies not so much in itself, but in the deductions to be made from it, I The 'Times" says the broad conclnI sion at which most people have arrived . is that to the end of time there can

never be complete unanimity about the conduct or the consequences ol tne Battle i of Jutland. The final verdict must ! | depend, for each commentator, upon m> ' own estimate of the ri«ks and opporttini-J tic? that were involved.