NAVY MOBILISATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1939, Page 2

NAVY MOBILISATION

FLAWS DISCOVERED. Hector C. Bywater. “Daily Telegraph and Morning Post’’ Naval Correspondent. writes: — A serious flaw in the Navy’s mobilisation plans was, I learn, revealed during the recent emergency. As the defect could easily be remedied it is in the public interest that the facts should be made known. The first stage of the mobilisation, in which the main Dleel was brought up to war strength in personnel, passed off smoothly enough. It was a very different matter when it came to providing officers for the Reserve Elect and second-line ships in general. Hundreds of retired naval officers tvere called up or offered their services. Retired executives of Lieut.Commander rank are liable to recall up to the age of GO. and Commanders up to (15. It. appears, however, that, no record is kept of their past services. state of physical fitness, or activities since retirement.

As the emergency proved. Ihe inevitable result is that on rejoining the Service, many are appointed to posts for which they are nnsiiited. or where their special qualifications are wasted. The following are two examples out of the many brought, to my notice; A lieut.-commander who retired in 1927 has followed the sea practically ever since, first as master of an oil tanker and later as an official in the whaling industry in the Pacific rind Antarctic. On reporting to the Admiralty for war service he was appointed to an office on shore. SECOND APPOINTS! ENT. He drew attention to his special fitness for sea service, but was told that in view of the confusion prevailing, the appointment, could not be altered. A few days later, however, lie received a. further appointment to command trawlers. Before he could take it up. the emergency was over. He. therefore. received no pay or compensation whatever, although lie had forfeited an excellent position to join up.

Another lieut.-commander. who had been invalided out of the Service as a result of severe tropical disease, was medically warned never to go to the tropics again. Yet on reporting for war duty in September, he found himself appointed to a shore billet at Aden. These, and other anomalies, which could be multiplied indefinitely, could easily be avoided if the Admiralty showed more interest in officers -who. although on the retired list, are always liable to be recalled in an emergency. Tt is suggested that all retired officers up to a certain age should be medically examined at least every three years al the expimse of the Admiralty. assigned to suitable war appointments. and given a refresher course in one or more of the subjects in which they formerly specialised.