VITAL TO EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 137, 6 December 1935, Page 11

VITAL TO EMPIRE

THE BRITISH NAVY

"GREATEST PEACE MACHINE"

ADMIRAL'S VIEWS

Only two New Zealanders have ever reached the rank of admiral in the Royal Navy—Vice-Admiral J. E. T. Harper, M.V.0., C.8., who comes from Christchurch, and Rear-Admiral J. S. M. Ritchie, "who comes from Dunedin. Both, now retired, were on board the Tamaroa which arrived here from London yesterday afternoon.

Vice-Admiral Harper was born in 1874 and educated at Christ's College. He entered the Navy in 1888 and saw active service' during the South African War and later in Somalilancl and Jubajand. In 1910 he was appointed Commander of the Royal Yapht, and three years later was promoted to the rank of captain. On attaining that rank he was appointed King's Harbourmaster at Portsmouth, and at the big naval review at Spithead in 1914 he was in charge of the arrangements as Master of the Fleet. During the war he was in charge of the merchant cruiser Carmania, and afterwards saw service in the North Sea as captain, of H.M.S. Gloucester, (n 1919 he was chosen to preside over a special committee of officers appointed to draw up' a narrative of the battle of Jutland. .The report of this committee is known as the Harper Report, and its suppression has caused a great deal of. discussion in naval circles during the past five or six years./ •

On the completion of this report Admiral Harper was appointed Director of Navigation at the Admiralty, and later, he was in command of H.M;S.. Resolution, a- post-Jutland battle ship. He was present at Constantinople as senior captain, during the settlement of the, Greek troubles, and-1 was in command there during the absence of Admiral de Robeck. He attained flag rank in 1925, and retired, from the service in February, 1927. Admiral Harper is the fifth son of the late Mr. Leonard Harper, and is t a grandson of the late Bishop Harper.. . .

Vice-Admiral Harper expects to be in. New Zealand until the end of February, "doing; a little work" on behalf of the: Navy- League, quite voluntarily, as he holds no office in the league. Since he retired eight years ago he has lived in Kent, and he will combine with his Navy League work in New Zealand the renewing of many old friendships here.. " I ■' ' ' . . 'I VALUE OF BRITAIN'S NAVY. The Navy and what it means to the British Empire and the world was the obvious subject of an interview with a "Post" representative on the Tamaroa yesterday afternoon.. "The people in the British Islands," ho said, "are absolutely dependent for their existence upon Great Britain maintaining a navy of sufficient strength to guard the trade routes, and every part of the British Empire, including New. Zealand, although perhaps not- equally , dependent for its food supplies from overseas, is as dependent for its prosperity as Great Britain is upon the high seas being maintained safe for our merchant ships. The routes along which these ships travel are the vital arteries which join the heart of the Empire to its outlying. limbs." That will be the theme, upon . which Vice-Admiral Harpjsi? will address meetings throughout.VNew'. Zealand bii' fb'ehalf of-the Navy- League." ' '. "The greatest peace machine in the world" was the description applied by the Vice-Admiral to. the British Navy. "But. for the presence of a British naval force in the Mediterranean," he declared, "it is quite certain that no steps could have been taken by the League of. Nations'which would in any way have affected the present dispute between Italy and Abyssinia. "But it is well to note," he continued, "that to enable a sufficient naval force to' be concentrated in the Mediterranean it has been necessary to withdraw important units of the Fleet from outlying stations, even" as far as New Zealand. If the British Navy had been maintained at its proper strength these grave risks would not have had to be taken. . "There is -a definite swing-over in England now to the realisation of the urgent necessity of maintaining a navy worthy of our great Empire," said Vice-Admiral Harper. "The British Navy haff been, and still is, the greatest peace machine in the world." Vice-Admiral Harper was invited to comment upon the death of EarlJellicoe, whom he knew personally. "It is unnecessary for me to say much to the people of New Zealand about the loss to the nation by the death of Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe," he replied. "As one who knew him I can say little more than that the great little admiral was a great leader and a perfect playfellow." j "EYES OF THE FLEET." j Rear-Admiral J. S. M. Ritchie was appointed to the rank of rear-admiral shortly before his recent retirement, j prior to which for two years he had command of the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Furious, a converted "cruiser carrying about -36 aircraft; Ten years ago he was in command.of H.M.S. Diomede on the- New Zealand Station, and since then he, has been Naval Attache at "Washington and occupied a post with the British Admiralty. Interviewed .on the Tamaroa ' yesterday, he was good-humouredly disinclined to talk, ay.A a continued questioning elicited only his opinion, based on his experience on the Furious, that the use of aircraft in co-operation with the Navy was bound to extend, as in suitable weather conditions the aircraft strengthened considerably the "eyes of the Fleet."

Rear-Admiral Ritchie, with his wife and children, left last night for Timaru, whence they intend to go-to Dunedin to visit relations. They are looking forward to a six months' holiday in New. Zealand, "and their plans after that are indefinite.