THE BERESFORD-SCOTT INCIDENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 5, 7 January 1908, Page 7

THE BERESFORD-SCOTT INCIDENT.

The threatened resignation of Lord Charles Beresford, arising out of the Percy Scott incident, will not take effect. Up to Saturday last (writes Mr W. H. Lucy to the Sydney Herald under date November 22) it was practically determined upon. At the last moment the Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet yielded to the counsel of friends who pointed out the unwisdom of the step. It would be the closing of a brilliant and useful career upon what the public, not fully alive to the enormity or the offence of breaches of discipline as regarded in the Navy, would have resented as a personal squabble. Lord Charles, reporting the incident to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, demanded the dismissal of Sir Percy Scott from his position as Rear-Ad-miral. The Lords Commissioners demurred to that extreme step, but admitted that Admiral Scott's conduct in sending the fatally funny despatch to a ship under his command was "inexcusable," and Lord Charles was authorised to convey to the author "the expression of their Lordships' grave disapproval." That was pretty severe, coming, as it did, from a body which is practically Sir John Fisher, of whom m the controversy that just now unhappily divides the Navy, Admiral Scott is a valued and outspoken partisan. The rebuke was not less cutting since Lord Charles Beresford was made the agency of its conveyance.

Lord Charles insisted that, as the offensive signal had been made in full view of the fleet, and had diily reached the Press, the reprimand should, also be published. The Lords Commissioners declined to take that course, sagely observing that the signal Lord Charles had made to the fleet had secured sufficiency of publicity. It was hereupon that resignation was threatened—a conclusion of the matter happily averted. But I have good reason to believe that the step is deferred, *">* abandoned. Lord Charles has twoyears more service to put in before he retires from his high position. But the difference of opinion existing between him and the First Sea Lord on the vital subject of the safety of the Navy is so acute that circumstances may any day arise bringing it to a crisis. Personally Lord Charles is eagerly looking forward to the day when he shall be unmuzzled and, free from disciplinary festraints on the pen and tongue of an officer in active command, shall, be able to tell the "truth about the Navy" as it presents itself in accordance with his personal knowledge and experience.