THE NAVAL INQUIRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6964, 2 November 1909, Page 5

THE NAVAL INQUIRY

MORE CORRESPONDENCE PREMIER REPLIES TO LORD a BERESFORD. LATTER REPEATS ASSERTIONS. Uy 'roloernph—Press Association—Copyright, (Received November 1, 10.25 p.m.) LONDON, November 1. Further correspondence has passed between Admiral Lord Charles Boresford and Mr Asquith, Prime Minister, relating to naval matters. A week ago Lord Charles published certain letters, ■ and protested against tbo Admiralty’s ; treatment of the officers who gave evidence at the naval inquiry. Ho cited the cases of Rear-Admiral Sturdoo and ; Captain Hulbert and Commander Campbell, and accused the Admiralty of extemporising a reorganisation, involving a change of personnel, with a view \ to ridding tho Admiralty Staff of Ills J supporters. Lord Charles added that y five captains had declined to,act as,lris : Chief Staff Officer ,in 1907, because they feared that acceptance of tho post would prejudice their future careers. PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY.

Mr Asquith now sharply rebukes Lord Charles Berosford for publishing the correspondence without giving him an opportunity to reply, and concludes : by expressing" profound regret “that : an officer of your experienced and distinction should be responsible for such i a letter. It is difficult to reconcile your action with the traditions of the service.”

The Prime Minister encloses a detailed reply furnished by Mr McKenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, showing promotions granted on Lord , Charles i Doresford’s staff, a number which, Mr ‘ McKenna believes, is unprecedented ' from a single ship. • Lord Charles Beresford, in replying, repeats that a (system of espionage, ’ favouritism, and intimidation exists at i the Admiralty which is ruining the ‘ splendid morale of the Navy.

Mr Asquith, in an earlier reply, enclosed a memorandum hy the Admiralty, alleging the necessity for the reorganisation of j the Naval Intelligence Department, whicu had caused Captain Halbert , and Commander Campbell to be placed, on the hall- . pay list. . The Xh-imo Minister stated that . ho could trace no breach of the undertak- i i lug that no officer’s career should bo pro- j judiced owing to his giving evidence. -.’--i The Cabinet Committee of Inquiry, i which was presided over by Mr Asquith, ,i issued its report in August lost. It i; 1 found that no danger hod resulted from the Admiralty’s plans. _lt regretted the ■ absence of cordial relations between the : Board of Admiralty and the commander, in-ohiof of .the Channel fleet. The Admiralty apparently had not taken Lord Charles Berosford sufficiently into its • confidence, while he had failed to carry. 1 out the spirit of the board’s instructions, . ; or to recognise its paramount authority.