ATLANTIC FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20991, 30 September 1931, Page 9

ATLANTIC FLEET.

CHANGE IN THE COMMAND. ADMIRAL IN HOSPITAL. (Received September 29. 7.45 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY. Sept. 28. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Austen Chamberlain, stated in the House of Commons that Admiral Sir Michael Hodges, who was in command of the Atlantic Fleet, has been advised by his doctors that he must remain in hospital for some weeks, and that his complete recovery would require considerable time. In these circumstances the admiral had asked to be relieved of his command, and the Board of Admiralty had with great regret acceded. Admiral Sir John Kelly had been appointed to succeed Sir Michael Hodges. Sir Michael Hodges entered the Navy in 1887 at the age of 13. He served in the defence of Lndysmith in the South African War, 1900. For some time he was naval attache in Paris, and during tJio war was principal naval transport officer at Salonika. Later he commanded the Indomitable and Renown with the Grand Fleet. He was recently in command of the Mediterranean Fleet. Sir .John Kelly entered the Navy from the Britannia in 1884. He commanded various ships during the war, including the Princess Royal with the First Battle Cruiser Squadron. From 1927 to 1929 he commanded the First Battle Squadron. He married Miss Mary Kellv, of Sydney, in 1915.