NAVAL STAFF CHANGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15175, 14 December 1912, Page 7

NAVAL STAFF CHANGES

ADMIRAL BRIDGEMAN'S

RETIREMENT.

FRICTION WITH FIRST LORD.

ILL-HEALTH DENIED.

By Telegraph —Press Association.— London, December 12. Troth states that it was recently announced that Prince Louis of Battenberg (who has been appointed to succeed Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman as First Sea Lord of the Admiralty) intends to resign owing to ill-health.

The Evening News states that Sir Francis Bridgeman denies that illhealth caused his retirement, as suggested by Mr. Churchill. Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons to-day, repeated that illhealth during the year was the cause of Sir Francis Bridgeman's retirement. He declared that Sir Francis had a continuous struggle against illness.

Mr. Churchill added that his action in suggesting the retirement of Sir Francis was taken with the Prime Minister's concurrence.

Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman was born in 1848, and entering the navy in 1867, earned rapid promotion. He became a Admiral in 1903, and was Com-mander-in-Chief of the Homo Fleet from 1907 to 1909. He then became A.D.C. to the King. and in 1910 was appointed a Sea Lord. He was appointed First Sea Lord during th« present year. Vice-Admiral Prinoe Louis of Battenberg, who it is stated is to succeed Sir Thomas Bridesman as First Sea Lord is the present Second Sea Lord. He was born nt Gratz (Austria) in 1854, being a son of Prince Alexander of Hesse. He became a naturalised British subject and entered the navy as a cadet when 14 years of age. He served with distinction in Egypt in 1882, receiving—amongst other • honours Khedive's star. After being Director of Naval Intelligence from 1902 to 1904 he was appointed Rear-Admiral in 1904. He has since held several important commands.