CHANGES AT THE ADMIRALTY

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 29, 2 February 1917, Page 2

CHANGES AT THE ADMIRALTY

THE NEW FOURTH LORD

(FROM OUK OWN CORKESrONDEHT.)

LONDON, 15th December.

New Zealanders generally were very much interested in the announcement of the appointment of Commodore Lionel Halsey, C.8., to be Fourth Sea Lord of tho Admiralty, under tho recent reorganisation. Until a few months ago Captain Halsey was still in command of H.M.S. New Zealand, and then was transferred to;-Admiral Jellicoe's staff as Captain of the Fleet. In command of H.M.S. New Zealand he distinguished himself in the Battle of Heligoland and Dogger Bank, while for his services in the Jutland Battle ho was specially thanked. The following congratulatory telegram was sent him a few days ago by Sir Jaseph Ward :—" Heartily congratulate you on the attainment of the high and important position to which you have been appointed. New Zealand feels it is a close association with H.M.S. New Zealand, and" I trust that • you will have, as successful and valuable a career in your new position as was distinctly the case in your former one." The New Zealander Premier also offered his congratulations.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Sir. Archibald Hurd remarks :—" There have been few more popular figures in the Grand Fleet than tho new Fourth Sea L-ord, who lias carried out his duties as an organiser efficiently and smoothly. He is remembered throughout the Dominions as the officer who took the battlecruiser New Zealand on her very successful Empire "cruise." Reference is also made to the part Captain Halsey played in the defence of Ladysmith. Mr. Hurd says: "This reconstitution of the Admiralty has considerably ' saltened' it, three of the principal officers of the Grand Fleet having been brought in. It is a happy circumstance that Sir John Jellicoe, in'taking up.his new duties, should have the support of two officers (Admiral Sir Cecil Burney and Captain Halsey), who have worked with him with conspicuous loyalty since the war opened, the one-as his second in command and the other as captain of the fleet, a. position severely testing tho organising capacity of its occupant. In the opinion of The Times the selection of the new Fourth. Sea Lord is interesting for several reasons, and should be particularly gratifying to the Dominions. " Not only is Captain Halsey well known and esteemed throughout Australia and New Zealand for his services as captain of the battle-cruiser%New Zealand during her most successful Empire and world cruise in 1913, but he also woa his promotion, to commander by meritorious service in command of guns at Ladysmith, during the South African Wai 1, when he was a lieutenant of the Powerful. Sir John Jellicoe recorded in his despatch' of the Jutland Battle how Commodore Halsey assisted him in tho working of the Fleet at sea, and expressed 'special thanks' to the Commodore, to whose ' good organisation ' is largely due the rapidity with which the Fleet was fuelled and replenished with ammunition on return, to its bases." '

Mr. Gerard Fiennes says the duties of Commodore Lionel Halsey, as Captain of the Fleet, had^had to do with the regulation of its supplies, and as supply.and transport are included in the duties of his new office, there is an obvious advantage in the now .appointment.