NEW SEA LORD

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 87

NEW SEA LORD

'« TUG " WILSON. STRONG AND SILENT MAN The appointment of a new First Sef. Lord is no ordinary event, writes Mr Arnold White ir the Daily Chronicle. The appointment of " Tug " Wilson to succeed Lord Fisher at the Admiralty is significant of far more than meets the eye. Reading between the lines, the impartial student of naval affairs may draw inferences that throw a flood of light upon the events that recently threatened to rive the navy asunder. The choice of a new First Sea Lord is always difficult. The number of men qualified for the post may be reckoned on fewer than the fingers of one hand. Ke must have a will of iron, a clear thinking brain, mastery of all naval problems of* past, present, and to come, and above all, he must be able not only to win the confidence of statesmen on both sides in politics, but he must steadfastly hoid his own in the Council Chamber with the most expert parliamentary debaters of the time. A First Sea Lord, if he is worth his salt, must also hold his own in the sphere of executive Government against the preponderant social, political, and financial interests of the army. He must at all times and in all companies, and in spite of all temptations to trim his sails to catch the passing breeze, be obsessed with the fact that governs the existence of the United Kingdom, India, and the Empire —i.e., as the Articles of War declare — " the navy rnder Ihe good Providence of God upon which the safety of -this realm doth chiefly depend." Any efficient First Sea Lord must necessarily make powerful and determined enemies, because he, of all the men responsible for the British Empire, cannot indulge in distorted vision. He mast either see things as they are and in *r.eir true perspective, or connive it the ruin of his country. All this may sound elemental and platitudinous, but, as a matter of fact, not only the British people are in constant danger of losing a cense of proportion about the navy, but even " War " Ministers have been known to forget that war for Britain means sea war. We mar " monkey " with the Constitution, enlist an army of one-legged soldiers, and entrust any department of Government, except the navy, to the inmates of Cblney Hatch, but we cannot trifle with the navy without eternal, irreparable, and certain ruin. These a.re the reasons why the appointment of Sir A. K. Wilson, V.C., is absolutely the best possible choice. Some of us feared that the mantle of the Admiralty Elijah might have fallen on another Elisha, but the nation may rejoice that a strong and silent man will succeed a strong and silent man, and also that continuity of policy is now assured at the Admiralty. _ It is as certain as anything can be in human affairs that if the navy were in the evil case alleged by the Imperial Maritime League Sir A. Wilson would refuse to fake office except on the condition of reversing the policy of Sir John Fisher. NAVAL EFFICIENCY. Admiral Sir Edward Seymour at the Guildhall was the offioial spokesman for the navy. Speaking as one who " had no responsibilities and held no brief," he said the condition of the navy " was extremely satisfactory." "The officers," he continued, '"were certainly much better trained, and he believed were more zealous, than when he joined the navy; while, on the other hand, the men were undoubtedly more intelligent, and," Sir Edward added, " what was even a more important thing, whereas a long time ago the appearance of a ship was considered more than gunnery and fighting, now the contrary was the case." •The Imperial Maritime League's circular of October 27 speaks of "espionage, delation, favouritism, and trsaipient of naval officers so grossly and manifestly unfair that the veriest street loafer would be ashamed to bo mixed up with it will be stamped with the hall-mark of the peerage." If this were true, Sir A. K. Wilson could not assent to continuity of policy at the Admiralty. Lord ArapthuT and General Sir Harry Prendergast, V.C., have already quitted the Maritime Leagu3, and, after the circular referred to, it is a matter of course that every gentleman on the council will follow their example. Sir Arthur Wilson's mind is virile and independent. He is as hard a worker as Lord Fisher. Being unsusceptible to fatigue, at 68 years of age, his stamina is a marvel. Scorning flattery, the allurements of luxury—except flowers—he shuns the limelight. He is credited in the navy with a dislike of the press and of journalists bordering upon abhorrence. During his long struggle with the Atlantic Ocean for the body of H.M.S. Montagu scarcely a word leaked into the papers about the admiral's personal shaTe in the work of salvage. It is not that he risked his life over and over again in the effort to save the Montagu that gained the unspeakable devotion of the fleet, but the fact that he is harder on himself than on his subordinates, and that his sense of justice is never distorted by playing to the gallery, fishing for popularity, or seeking She limelight. Sir Arthur Wilson is a hard man, very hard on his men. Ho seeks no man's praise. When he hauled down his flag no cheering was .allowed. He stepped on shore in plain clothes, and resumed hia place without pomp, bunting, or crowds, as a simple citizen, after serving hk country afloat for half a century. SUPREME IN TACTICS. In gunnery, strategy, and tactic* "Tug" Wilson is the highc&t authority in the navy. In tactics he k supreme.

Those of us who live on shore too seldom, consider what the work of an admiral is. The enemy's smoke as reported on the horizon; in 20 minutes the fleet will be in action. The admiral has no time to 'consult anybody, and if he needs consultation at such a time he ought never to be an admiral. As any fleet evolution takes 10 minutes to perform, only 10 minutes remain for manoeuvring, orders, and last dispositions. Imagine what this means. A general on shore works over maps in a, telephone room, surrounded by his staff, and plays a quiet game of chess with an ■enemy he does not see. An admiral's work on the day of battle is a matter of will and eyesight; be crowds into 10 minutes the inspiration and labours of a lifetime. The sea is an exacting mistress. To those who serve her faithfully she imparts something of her strength* dignity, and repose. Of all admirals in the world, Sir Arthur Wilson is the accepted master of the art of naval war. It is not an extravagant thing to say that as regards tactics the admirals of the world are divided into two classes — in one is Sir Arthur Wilson, in the other the rest of the admirals. As regard® strategy, opinions differ among landsmen ; but I have never met a naval officer who did not attribute to Sir A. K. Wilson as complete a mastery of strategy as of tactics. Amateur landsmen, who know so much better than the Admiralty bow to manage the navy, have described Sir Arthur Wilson as a "drill sergeant." He is a great deal more than that. The admiral loves flowers, he is a botanist, strangely conservative in his habits, taciturn, courteous, and concise. He has never been known to lose his temper. A rearadmiral once sent an impudent reply to a question from Wilson, who first penned a cutting reply, but tore it up, substituting a quiet and pithy order requiring the rear-admiral to send-a relevant answer, and to send it at once. Wilson's word of praise is rare ; whenrit comes their way, men flush like He is secretive, admiral should be ; consults nobody, tells nothing. I cannot help eonjectiiring that England owes the acceptance by Sir A. K. W'ilson of his appointment to His Majesty the King, for, it is inconceivable that anyone else, in. time of peace, could have lured Wilson from retirement to the limelight. The Committee of National Defence now includes' the First- Sea Lord and Sir A. K. Wilson. On the retirement of the former, if it includes the names of the First Sea Lord and Lord Fisher the country is fortunate—and safe.