NAVY INADEQUATE

Evening Star, Issue 21622, 18 January 1934, Page 9

NAVY INADEQUATE

SIR ROGER KEYES'S DECLARATION CANDIDATE FOR PARLIAMENT Pres* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 17. (Deceived January 18, at 8.40 a.in.) “ If I am elected I shall demand a thorough overhaul of the naval defences and the abrogation of the London Treaty, which has done the Navy most grievous harm,” declared Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, in a speech following his adoption as Conservative candidate at the Portsmouth by-election owing to Sir Bertram Falle’s elevation to the peerage. Sir Roger Keyes added: “ The treaty crippled out freedom of design, and condemned us to break up splendid ships like the Iron Duke and Tiger. All this was done to please the Americans, who are self-contained and have none of our dangers to face.” ADMIRAL SIR ROGER KEYES Admiral Keyes is a leader who, even in the British Navy, where _ the standard of energy and courage is so gloriously high, has always been noted for bis combination of coolness and extraordinary daring. He _is sixty years old, but he has the vigour and air of youth. Of him it may be said that he has done nothing without putting forth his whole strength, and that, like his immortal predecessor_ Nelson, he has “ always counted nothing done while aught remains to do.” As a midshipman he served in many of the petty wars . England has waged in and around Africa, and as a lieutenant he , leaped into fame during the Boxer Rebellion in China when he showed the stuff of which he was made. In command of a British destroyer, with a mere handful .of Bluejackets,_ he captured the Taku forts, which were garrisoned by many thousands of men. For his splendid service in China he was promoted to _ the rank of commander, was mentioned in despatches, and received the praise of the Admiralty. In the years before the Great War bp specialised as a submarine and torpedo officer, and for his daring and enterprise was selected to command the British submarines during the blockade. In the operations against the German High Seas Fleet he Jhoisted his flag as commodore in the Lurcher. By means of a trap his fleet were able to capture and sink the light cruisers Mainz, Koeln, and Ariadne, the loss to the enemy being at least 800 men killed or drowned, while other German warships were severely punished on the same occasion, and any attack by German ships/on British transports which were then busily conveying troops to France, was prevented. Commodore Keyes was foremost in an air attack on Cuxhaven, which was parried out by British seaplanes on Christinas Day, 1914, when considerable damage was done.' He afterwards went to the Dardanelles, serving as .Chief of Staff to the late Admiral Sir Michael de Robeck, and in 1917, after his promotion to rear-admiral’s rank, he was appointed Director of Plans at the Admiralty. He did excellent work in that position, but his qualities and his special aptitude for executive command at one of the most arduous posts led to his appointment to the post of ViceAdmiral at Dover. His unremitting attention made the Straits of Dover anything but agreeable to the enemy submarines, his heroic men on drifters and destroyers doing devoted work at all seasons of the year. Admiral Keyes was in command of the successful operations against Ostend and Zebrugge in the later stages of the waf> his work during those strenuous days earning him a K. 0.8. Since the war he commanded the cruiser squadron of the Atlantic Fleet, from 1921 to 1925 he was Deputy-Chief of the Naval Staff, and from 1925 to 1928 was Commauder-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Station. After the war he was made a baronet, and received a wift of £IO,OOO from the Government. He was promoted Admiral of the Fleet in 1930. He struck his flag in June, 1931.