ADMIRAL KEYES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25396, 28 December 1945, Page 5

ADMIRAL KEYES

HEART TROUBLE VICTIM LEYTE BATTLE SEQUEL CAI{ 1)1 AC ASTHMA CAUSED DONDON, DecAdmiral of the Fleet Lord Keyes died from cardiac asthma. His lungs were affected by fumes from the smoke-screen laid by the American flagship of Admiral Connolly during a dive-bombing attack at the landing on Leyte, in the Philippines, in October, 1944. Arlinir.nl Keyes, who was on the bridge, .mil nearly 40 others on the upper deck were rendered nearly unconscious arul had to be given oxygen. Admiral Keyes' health thereafter remained impaired. After a rest in Australia lie recovered sufficiently to fly to England, but the flight still further affected his heart.

By the death, announced yesterday, of Admiral of the Fleet Baron Keyes of Zeebrugge and of Dover, the Empire has lost a man who personified the spirit of the Royal Navy, When a motor-boat in which he was reconnoitring Zeebrugge ran into a minefield, Admiral Keyes shouted: "Go ahead! It's no use going back." That one phrase expressed his character and his attitude to life.

The career of Admiral Keyes reads like a boy's adventure book, it is full of brave deeds in many strange places. It began in India, where he was born and barely survived an earthquake, it. continued in East Africa, where he saw his first active service, and from there it went to China, during the Boxer Rebellion, to Home. Venice, Athens and Constantinople, to Gallipoli, to Dover, where he won fame in command of the Dover Patrol, and later to Zeebrugge, where he was in eominand of that most gallant attack.

Service In Parliament In due time Admiral Keves retired from the service he loved. But he was not content to live leisurely. In 1934 he reappeared on the public scene as ncwlv-electcd Conservative member for Portsmouth, and he held this seat until .Tanuarv. 1913. when lie was elevated to the peerage as the first Baron Keyes of Zeebrugge and of Dover. But in the meantime Admiral Keyes had done several things which, if a reminder were needed, again showed the nation what stamp of a man lie was. One of them was his speech in the House during the historic debate <m the Norwegian campaign, it being: '!>-s debate which precipitated Mr ChamhiTlaill's resignation as Prime Minister and Mr Churchill's appointment in his place. Admiral Keyes entered the House m full uniform, that he might better represent, he said, "some officers and men of the fighting, seagoing Navy who are verv unhappv." He ended his speech thus: "One'hundred and forty years ago Nelson said. 'I am of the opinion that the boldest measures are the safest,' and that still holds good today." Directed Combined Operations The other thing which reminded Britain that Keyes in his sixties still had the fire of Keyes in his twenties was his appointment, almost before the smoke of Dunkirk had cleared away, as Director of Combined Operations. Keyes became the hand which began to thrust a dagger into numerous chinks in the German armour, where it ; sprawled protectively along the coast of Europe and Scandinavia. He it was, as an enthusiastic missionary of amphibious warfare, who planned the Lofoten Islands raid in March, 1941, the parachute raid on Southern Italy in February of the same year, the raid on Spitsbergen in the following August, and who sent three commandos to Egypt, whence they fought in Crete, Bardia, Tobruk and Syria. An officer in one of them was the Admiral's eldest son. LieutenantColonel G. C. T. Keyes, who was posthumously awarded the -Victoria Cross after lie' had been killed in an attempt to capture Rommel in his Libyan headquarters in November, 1941. A month before his son was killed Admiral Keyes had retired from his post as Director of Combined Operations. But the flame which he had helped to kindle not only lived, but grew, and it is right that his early responsibility for tending it should be recognised.

Champion o! Naval Aviation By this time Admiral Keves was 69. He still refused to be inactive. He continued to take keen interest in the direction of the war and used every opportunity to Rive it such energising as his aggressive spirit deemed that it needed. An example of this is to be found hi the attention he paid to the naval air arm. As early as 15)37 lie had said in the House of Commons that he had "never had to fight for anything 1 consider more vital to naval efficiency and the security of our sea communications than the development of naval aviation." He took every opportunity to prod the nation and the Navy into a proper recognition of the importance of naval aviation. Although old in years. Admiral Tv-yes remained young in heart and mind. Not much more than a year ago he embarked on a strenuous tour which took him not only to Canada. Australia and New Zealand, but also put him on the bridge of an American warship for the invasion of the Philippines. Von Rundstedt's Offensive

Lord Iveyes came to New Zealand last Christmas at the time of von Rundstedt's offensive, and it was proof of his experienced perception that he then correctlv read the check to the Allied arms. "Do not be dismayed •or disheartened," he said in Auckland, for there is no doubt of the result. I think that ibis thrust will be the last, and that it will be sealed off 1 have .no shadow of doubt." He also said that after the thrust had been stopped the war would be carried to its victorious conclusion within the next few months. Admiral Keves liked to spur the public mind into what he considered a due and proper recognition of the importance of the Navy. The service has lo«t a great champion. The last few 'fenerations of naval officers have produced only the one Keves. He never commanded a fleet in line of battle, but he did more than enough _to . ensure that he will share the shrine ot the Navv's great.

GANDHI'S FRANKNESS

CAPITALISTS EXPLOITED CALCUTTA, Dec. 26 The Indian National Congress, while accepting financial help and eo-opcrfltlou from capitalists in the fight for India's ' independence, never was and never could be a capitalist organisation, said Gandhi, addressing a meeting of Congress workers. ° "I myself," he added, "freely accept hospitality from capitalists such as the Birlas and make use of their money to serve the cause of the poor, but capitalists expect nothing in return from me. They, on the contrary, are glad to be exploited by me in the interests of the poor." HIGHER AGE PENSIONS PARIS, Dec. 26 The Wrench Minister of Labour, M. Croi/.an, announced that a bill would be introduced in the Assembly provitling for a ,">() percent increase in the old age pensions of 2.000,000 ex-workers. Tlu» Government ultimately intends to end State control over wages and restore collective bargaining.