NAVAL WEAKNESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14219, 16 November 1909, Page 5

NAVAL WEAKNESS.

' BERESFORD'S CAMPAIGN. ■ . . , ■.. . ■ 4 NOT ENOUGH SHIPS OR MEN: PUBLIC DRUGGED WITH FALSEHOOD. , By Telegraph.—rress Association.Copyright. (Received November 15, 10.30 p.m.) London, November 15. ; Speaking at the Dolphin Club dinner at Bristol on Saturday evening, Admiral Lord Charles Beresford emphasised the deficiency of ships, men, and stores,, the absenoe of a war reserve of coal, and the absence of a true war division at the Admiralty to direct th& training of the fleet for war. ! ✓ Lord Charles Beresford declared that the recent naval, manoeuvres were farcical, and that the public -had been drugged with falsehood. The business - of. the navy," he went on, '.'-is .always, to. be ready to meet, an attack it cannot be unless it is continually under : training at sea.'" *' ' .*•''" The two-Power standard has gone. It" can only be recovered with the help of the oversea nations, but they are only beginning,-and it- will be at least- , fives* -years before they can contribute to the naval strength of the Empire." , Lord Charles Beresford concluded by urging every <jlass of society to join together to put an end to the miserable weakness, vacillation . and compromise which were jeopardising our supremacy of the sea, and therefore our life as an Empire.

, A letter written by Admiral Lord Charles Beresford to Mr. Lloyd, a solicitor, who has' been selected .as the Unionist candidate for the Rhondda division of Glamorganshire at next general election, was published last week, The writer, Jin referring to the British navy, stated that St was not properly organised or trained. It had no plan of campaign, and it was dangerously short of many units. He added: " Unless the country wakes shortly to the great necessity for adequate naval , defence, there is no doubt that the Empire will be a thing of the past. Thinking people in other countries see the dangerous position of. Great Britain more clearly than we do." - On the other hand,.Rear-Admiral. Sir Percy Scott, speaking: after _ the publication of the letter, reaffirmed the navy's . efficiency from the standpoint of organisation, training and preparation -for- war, but, he added, ''The reforms securing this efficiency have not been introduced, without a certain amount of obstruction, friction and jealousy being manifested."' "He vehemently protested against " the scandalous .imputations made against the honesty and administrative capacity of the naval officers who are serving on the Board of Admiralty," and concluded, " Happily procedure so averse to the traditions of. the navy and so contrary to good comradeship has not interfered with the carrying out of necessary - reforms or shaken the lovaltv which is-due from all naval officers to properly constituted authority." . v.