BRITAIN’S BULWARKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3624, 10 September 1912, Page 5

BRITAIN’S BULWARKS.

STRIKING ADMIRALTY REFORMS ANNOUNCED. NO PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES ANTICIPATED. (UNITED PEEBS ASSOCIATION—COPYEIGHT] LONDON, iSept. 9. Striking Admiralty reforms are announced. 'Phe Admiralty has abolished “No. 10,” a form of punishment, and other administrative reforms are projected. The deepening of Rosyth harbor will be taken in hand soon.

The Admiralty has placed in Scotland an order for 200,000 tons of oil fuel. A feature of the Admiralty reforms is that each member of the Hoard specialises. Thus, the First Sea Lord looks after the organisation , for war and distribution of the fleet. 'Plie Second Sea Lord is freed from administrative distractions, and devotes himself to the creative task of design, assisted by a new officer, a director of naval equipment, who will supervise the equipment of ships under construction and the details of repairs and liftings.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. (Received Sept. 9, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 9. 'Pin* First Lord will undertake the general direction and supervision of all business relating to the Navy, political, and board questions. The Memorandum explains that the title of Controller as additional to that of the Third Sea Lord, is to be abolished, lrut while the latter is to be restricted generally to work of design all the factors contributing to design must be within his control to enable him to deal with the whole problem as a warship is primarily a gun platform, and scarcely anything co.i nected with the design can be considered apart from armament. Henceforth the Department of Ordnance and Torpedoes will be transferred as far as materia! is concerned from the First to the Third Sea Lord.

The First .Sea Lord is to he responsible for gunnery, torpedoe exercises, tactical employment of aircraft, and all military questions connected with the foregoing. Tile (Second Sea Lord is to supervise personnel, the Fourth stores ana transport, while the Civil Lord is to be entrusted with works and buildings and the Greenwich Hospital. Ail additional Civil Lord will look after contracts and dockyard business, but general labor questions will remain under the Parliamentary Financial Secretary. The Permanent Secretary will deal with general office organisation and correspondence. The Memorandum adds that the now svstein will present- no practical difficulties, as it is well understood by all concerned.

A second Memorandum explains that tlie Director of Equipment will lie associated with the direction of dockva rds.

The superintendent is to contractwork and to advise on questions arising from building, alterations and repairs and to constantly take stock of the condition of ships. He is empowered to confer with the superintendents of dockyards a? to details, informing the heads of other professional departments on all matters whereof they should be cognisant. A third memorandum establishes the Finance Committee on a mere formal and resnonsible basis.