FIRST SEA LORD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20202, 13 September 1927, Page 11

FIRST SEA LORD.

EARL BEATTY HAULS DOWN HIS FLAG. A DISTINGUISHED CAREER. SIR CHARLES MADDEN. (From Cue Own Correspondent.) LONDON, August 5. On July 30, Earl Beatty handed over the office of First Sea Lord to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Madden, and so brought to an end his long and distinguished career in the active service ot the fleet. During that most critical year of 1917, when the Empire was fighting for its life against the submarine. Admiral Beattv was Commandcr-in-Chiet ot the Grand Fleet and Admiral Jedhcoe was First Sea Lord at Whitehall. With then aid the shin of State was steered to victory. Peace brought with it problems no less complex than those of war, and during the last seven years Earl Beatty has handled those problems with consummate skill, , _ , ■ ? It was during the Sudan campaign oi 1896-8 that David Beatty first came to the front, and his gallant work in command of gunboats on the Nile won him the D.S.O. and promotion to commander. In 1900 he was second in cominand ot HM S Barfleur on the China Station, and he landed with the Naval Brigade during the Boxer rebellion. On several occasions he so distinguished himself by his personal bravery and resource in difficult situations that he was posted to the rank of captain at the end of the year at the early age ot 29. From that time ho never looked back, and after holding many commands at sea he attained flag rank in 1911, while still under the age of 40. THE GERMAN SURRENDER.

After two years as Naval Secretary to tiro First Lord of the Admiralty, Admiral Beatty hoisted his flag in command of the Battle Cruiser Squadron. He was created a KC.B. in June, 1914 and the outbreak of the Great War found b m in this important command. Earl Beatty’s services during the war need no reiteration. Heligoland Bight, the Dogger Bank, and Jutland were but isolated events m a period of over four years of se\eie tension while he commanded the Battle Cruiser Force and afterwards the Grand Fleet. During all this time the admiral was constantly on the alert, and his work culminated on the afternoon of November 21, 1918, when he had the proud satisfaction of receiving the surrender of the defeated German licet and of making the signal; “The German, flag will bo hauled down at sunset and is not to be hoisted again without permission.” Earl Beatty went to the Admiralty as First Sea Lord with a difficult task ahead of him (says the Morning Post). The licet had grown during the war beyond all possible peace time requirements, and first came the unpleasant task of. retrenchment both in men and ships, which had to be carried out with care and vision, so as to retain nothing but the best for the navy of the future. The fleet had to ho reduced from its expanded war time condition to a complete and efficient modern navy, strong enough to safeguard the Empire without putting too great a strain upon the pocket of the taxpayer. The satisfactory state of the fleet to-day is the answer as to how this task has been carried out under Earl Beatty’s guidance. EVENTS AT GENEVA. The Washington Conference and subsequet treaty threw on the shoulders of the First Sea Lord the responsibility of preparing the technical case for the British Empire, and of seeing that while economy remained the watchword, security was not forgotten. There came the fight for the cruiser building programme which was so necessary for our safety, a fight carried to a successful issue against unseeing politicians and a reluctant Treasury. The events of the piast lew weeks at Geneva are a vindication of Admiralty policy, and the recent far-reaching British proposals for limitation of naval armaments, mainly the work of Earl Beatty, are the outcome of the main lines of policy of his administration —security and efficiency with economy. Eary Beatty's reputation as a fighting admiral will always remain. In the past few years he has added to it that of an administrator, and his name will go down to history as one of Britain’s great Sea Lords. SIR CHARLES MADDEN. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Madden, who becomes First Sea Lord, comes to that office with a ripe experience both in high command at sea and in administrative work at the Admiralty. In his early career he was a torpedo specialist, and as a captain he served at the Admiralty as naval secretary to the First Lord, as naval assistant to the First Sea Lord, and afterwards as Fourth Sea Lord. While in the latter office he attained flag rank in 1911, and short! afterwards hoisted his flag at sea as rear admira 1 of the First Battle Squadron. Admiral Madden then served continuous!’• at sea in high command for new fewer than 11 years. After commanding the Second and Third (.'miser Squadrons, lie became Chief of the Staff (n Lord Jellicne in the Grand Fleet at the outbreak of tic war, and the great work that he did will never he forgotten by those officers and men who served in the 11 rand Fleet hnlli before and after the Battle of Jutland. When Lord -Tollir oc became First Sea Lord in 1917, Sir Charles Madde- was appointed second in command of the Grand Float, while Eary Beatty was (Vunmnndei-in-Chief, and his .flag was flying in that command when the German fleet surrendered in November, 1018, For his great services during the war Sir Charles Madden was created a baronet, and also received the G.C.B. and C.C.V.0., and on leaving the Grand Fleet he hoisted his flag ns Comma nder-i nCliief of the Atlantic fleet, and held that command until 1072.