THE BERESFORD-SCOTT INCIDENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 86, 4 January 1908, Page 14

THE BERESFORD-SCOTT INCIDENT.

; ' ———— The threatened resignation of Lord Charles Beresford, arising out of the Percy Scott incident, will not take effect. Up to Saturday last (y,-rites Mr. W. H. Lucy to the Sydney "Herald" under date November - 22) it was-practically determined upon. At the last moment the Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet yielded to tho counsel of friends who pointed out the unwisdom of the step. ' It would .be the closing of a. brilliant and useful career upon what the public, not fully- alive to tlio enormity of the offence of breaches of. discipline as regarded in the Navy, would have resontcd as a personal squabble. Lord Charles, reporting tho incident to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, demanded tho dismissal of Sir Percy Scott from his position as Itear-Admiral. The Lords Commissioners demurred to that extreme step, but admitted that' Admiral Scott's conduct in sending tho fatally funny despatch • to, a ahip under his command was ''inexcusable," and Lord Charles was authorised to convoy to tho author "the expression of their Lordships' grave disapproval" _ That was protty severe, coining, as it did, from a body which is practically .Sir John Fisher, of' whom in the controversy that just now unhappily-divides tho'Navy, Admiral-Scott is a valued arid outspoken partisan. Tho robuko. was not.less , cutting since Lord Charles Berosford • was mado tho agency of its conveyance. Lord Charles insisted that, as tho offensive signal bad been made in full view of the fleet, and had duly reached the Press, tho reprimand should also .be published. Tlio Lords Commissioners "declined to take that courso, sagely observing '.'that tho signal Lord Charles had made, tij the fleet had secured sufficiency of publicity. It was hereupon that resignation was threatened —a ■ conclusion of tho matter happily nvorted. But I havo good reason to bclievo that the stop is deferred, not abandoned. Lord Charles has two years moro servico to put in before ho retires from his, high position. . But the difference of opinion existing between him and the First Sea Lord, on th&-.vital-subject of tho safety of the Navy is so acute that circumstances may anv day arise bringing it to a crisis. Personally Lord Charles is eagerly looking : forward to tlio day when lie shall he un- ■ muzzled and, free from • disciplinary rci straints on tho pen and tongue of an officer ■ in active command, shall bo able to tell ; tho "truth about tho Navy" as it presents i itself in accordance with his personal knowi lodjto and oxperionce.