A NOTABLE ENGLISHMAN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6745, 17 February 1909, Page 4

A NOTABLE ENGLISHMAN

There is not likely to be much surprise in England at Lord Charles Beresford being transferred to the half-pay list and relinquishing the command of the Channel Fleet. Though a year ol his command remained, it is highly probable that his immediate retirement is the result of his own application, for not long ago Lord Charles stated that he intended to seek entry to the Hon so of Commons. Under all the circumstances his relinquishment of the high post he occupied is one that cannot cause much regret; for it must bo confessed that his presence in the navy has of late been a decidedly irritating circumstance. As.a member of Parliament he will be able, by reason of M 3 expert naval knowledge, to give the country a service that few men are able to discharge. Lord' Charles Beresford is a sailor of great ability and a personality of rare strength. He has rendered the nation brilliant help m tho hour of battle and as an administrator. But, unfortunately, he has of late been one of the central figures in a series of personal recriminations which reached the plane of a grave national scandal. His quarrels with Sir John Fisher and Sir Percy Scott will bo fresh in the public mind. They were a few months ago a subject of controversy in the London newspapers, and the subject of amazed comment in the Continental and American press. The antagonism between 1 Lord Charles and the other distinguished seamen was furiously personal, and-the British people suffered tho humiliation of seeing the development of this quarrel form the subject of discussion in Parliament. To the more sane commentators on the passing events of those days the position appeared to be one of gross peril, for by no stretch of imagination could it be conceded that the airing of hatreds and jealousies among the highest officers of the navy could be anything but subversive of discipline. Nothing could, of course, be done to prevent men disliking one another, but when it came to these officers snubbing one another at public gatherings and to the display of irritating signals from their flagships tho majority of people concluded that the matter was one that called for interference by a powerful hand. Tho facts of the prolonged squabble were necessarily confused and difficult of ac-

cess, but the incident was such a very ugly one that tho Board of Admiralty was strongly recommended to end ; t by holding an investigation and dismissing the Admiral whose conduct lod to tho first bellicose explosion. Tho existence of personal animosities in the navy are not pleasant things to think of. Their possible consequences are still less agreeable to conjecture. In any event they should at least bo decently draped from tho world. For the reason that tho retirement (f Lord Charles Beresford relieves a disgraceful tension it is to be welcomed, particularly as it is known that the usefulness of a highly gifted man is not to be lost to the country.