NAVAL COURT-MARTIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1935, Page 7

NAVAL COURT-MARTIAL

HOOD-RENOWN COLLISION

REAR-ADMIRAL 7 ACQUITTED

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(Received February 27, 1.15 p.m.) ! LONDON/February 26. Gun-firing from the naval saluting battery, and the flag hoisted on Nelson's Victory, heralded the courtmartial. A guard of seamen, with a band, received the Admirals with due honours. .

Rear-Admiral Troup,' prosecuting, said that Rear-Admiral Bailey ordered the Hood and the Renown to carry out inclination exercise, after which the Renown should have taken station astern of the Hood. When the signal was made to form line ahead, the Renown was slightly ahead of the Hood. Rear-Admiral Bailey was blameable, because he did not take action to prevent the development of a situation in which there was a risk of collision. • '

Captain Sawbridge, commanding the Renown, said that he received the order to form ahead when- the ships were 300 yards apart, whereupon he ordered the engines astern. The Renown was not moving at the moment of the collision. He expected that the Hood, when she made no further signal, would put her wheel over, qnd bring the Renown astern. Captain Tower, commanding the Hood, said that the ships were 1500 yards apart when the line ahead .signal was made, and there was ample room for the execution of the order.

Rear-Admiral .Bailey demonstrated the position of the ships, with models. In evidence, he said that he gave no further signal, because it was important to eliminate redundant signals.. He expressed the opinion that, the Renown was closing in because she was reluctant to lose her bearing, before it was necessary. There was no reason to suppose that she would not follow the usual procedure as Twice recently carried out., “My opinion was that she was manoeuvring badly,” he said: “She could not expect the flagship, -which was directing the squadron, to make way for her. I captained the Renown, and know that she is’ a handy ship. _ I have since thought over any other sig- , nal that might have been given, but I could think of none, except taking over the command of -the Renown myself.” The Court deliberated for one and a-half hours.'?. When it re-opened, Rear-Admiral Bailey, on entering, saw his sword-hilt facing him, indicating that he was acquitted. / The court-martial is the first of three to be held, in accordance with the normal procedure following such an"accident. 1 At the -other two, Captain Sawbridge, of the IRenown, and Captain Tower, of the Hood, will be tried. ______