THE RUSSIAN NAVY TO BE BUILT UP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12955, 26 August 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RUSSIAN NAVY TO BE BUILT UP.

The following is the substance of an Imperial rescript addressed to Admiral Birileft' on his appointment as Minister for Marine: —

"The Tsar points out that the navy's successive disasters have deprived it of the possibility of lightening the task and guaranteeing the success of the army. His Majesty sorrowfully deplores the loss of the faithful sailors who sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland, and points out that it is the duty of all sailors towards their country ardently to undertake the reconstitution of the naval forces, which are indispensable to Russia, and the education and training of the necessary naval personnel so that the latter may be imbued with the consciousness of what naval service requires. " His Majesty acknowledges that Admiral Birileff during "the hasty fitting out of the second and third Pacific squadrons displayed remarkable energy, experience, and military sentiment, and inspired his subordinates with a vigorous spirit and with the consciousness of the national importance of their work. These are services which enable the Tsar to count surely on Admiral Birileff for the renovation of the navy. In appointing him Minister he entrusts to him the high direction of the Navy Department and the duty of personally presenting reports relating to it to His Majesty. The recent shocking events in the Black Sea prove the total laxness of military discipline among the crews, and the indifference to their duties of their immediate chiefs. Such exceptional criminal acts call for serious investigations and rigorous punishments. " Consequently the Tsar entrusts to Admiral Birileff as' his first duty to strengthen the military spirit of discipline, and to bring about a resumption of the regular performance of their duties by the naval personnel, by re-establishing the former system whereby an inquiry was an essential preliminary to the promotion of officers, to consolidate the central administrative organs of the Ministry of Marine, to extend the independence and responsibility cf the commanders-in-chief of the fleets and ports of the Black and Baltic Seas, and to devote his special attention to the important educative effect of service abroad for the officers and men of the Imperial Naval Guard (quartered at St. Petersburg), and t* strengthen their love of the naval service.

I "Tlio Emperor recommends Admiral ! Birilcfi to guarantee to the navy a person--1 nel, sure and technically well prepared, and i well disciplined by schooling, to place naval : construction under conditions in conformity ! with the requirements of the present day, ! and to raise the level of the technical inj struction of the corps of naval engines. '■ "As to the future programme of naval 1 construction, the Ministry of Marino mure ! at once commence to take measures to ensure the maritime defence o? tis Runs?.!! coast and all Russian waters, and then gradually reconstitute the lighting squad* ; rons according to the rescurcw sT«lnbl«.."

jPOTLTSHED BY SPECIAL AMANGBAtENT.]