JUTLAND AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 62, 15 March 1927, Page 9

JUTLAND AGAIN

BEATTY AND THOMAS

CHURCHILL'S COMMENT

battle Signals quoted b' COMMONS

(United Press Association.—Copyright)' (Received 15th March, 8 a.m.)

LONDON; 14th March.

A controversy arising out of Mr. Win. ston Churchill's comments on the Battle of Jutland and Admiral Evan Thomas's rejoinder thathe with the Fifth Battla Squadron was unable to follow Admiral Beatty's battle-cruisers when they turned towards the Germans on Slst May, 1916, because Beatty's signals aid not reach him, cropped up in the House of Commons when Commander Bellairs (C.) asked for details of the signal* facorded in Admiral Thomas's flagship the Barham that day. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. W. C. Bridgeman, replied that the signal ■'eferred to in pages 12 and 106 of the official narrative of the Battle of Jutland was recorded in the Barham's signal log m received at 2.30 p.m. by searchlight from the battle-cruiser Lion: "Take up position now to form submarine screen when course is altered to SJ3.E." The executive signal to turn is recorded in the Barham's signal log as received at 2.37 p.m. by flag from the Lion: "Alter course, leaders together, remainder in succession, to S.S.E. Speed-twenty-two knots." . "Between those times the Barham signalled to her own destroyers at 2.34 p.m.: 'Take up station for screen oa altering course to S.S.E.' "This signal appears in the log of the flotilla leader Fearless."