A COMING MAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7173, 13 December 1901, Page 4

A COMING MAN.

(London Express.) If Lord Charles Bcresford's name appears too often in the newspapers to please his enemies the reason is not any love for advertisement on the part of the Eear-Adtniral. A singular comment on the truth of this statement is found in the complete silence of the British Press on -the subject of the great manoeuvres of the combined Mediterranean and Channel Fleets recently held under the command of Sir John Fisher. Admiral Wilson, commanding the Channel Fleet, fresh from his victory over Sir Gerald Noel in the August manoeuvres, was set tho task of defeating Lord Charles Beresford in command of a division of the Mediterranean Fleet. The struggle was between giants, but the victory of Beresford was overwhelming and complete. Tho writer of these lines obtains this information from officers of the Channel Fleet.' During the last two years Lord Charles Beresford has either been very lucky or very skilful, because he has won most completely in every manoeuvre in which he has been engaged with an opposing fleet. This unbroken series of successes, his silence, and modesty in victory have made Lord Charles Beresford the idol of the Navy. Two years ago the Fleet men could scarcely believe that the spokesman of the Navy in the House of Commons could also be a great commander. Facts, however, have proved that Beresford1 can beat the strategists, the tacticians, the boat-sailers, the signalmen, "and the votaries of drill at their ownline. ■•. ;,- ;- ' ■ ■

Last year the boats of the Eamillies were first and third for the Mediterranean Cup sailed in Gibraltar Bay. This was no more an accident than the defeat of Admiral Wilson by Beresford off Lagos Bay or of Admiral Fisher at the manoeuvres of Deliagatsch earlier in the year. Beresford has kept silence for two years, and take him for all in all he is the type of man England needs at the present juncture to organise her Imperial defences.