ADMIRALTY DEFICIENCIES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14838, 15 February 1919, Page 3

ADMIRALTY DEFICIENCIES.

SERVICE REPLIES TO JELLICOE;

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) (Received Feb. 15. 10.10 a.m ) . LONDON, Feb. 14, Ihere are complaints m Service circles at Lord. Jellicoe^s catalogue of Admiralty deficiencies. It is pointed out that Lord Jelhcoe was Direotor of Naval Ordinance between 1905 and 1907. Ammunition would' not have become bad after he vacated the appointment. Lord Jelhcoe's reference to the bursting bf German shells indicates an improvement between the Bight battle and Jutland. It was characteristic of the Germans to improve their material after experience A large body of opinion m the 'fleet was opposed to the use of searchlights t 8 "^y F ey « al ihe ships' positions. lx>rd_ Jellicoe complains of the quality of the searchlights, ■ but JeUicoe could have secured star, shells for them if h e had liked, and similarly could have had submarines equipped with wireless. He W^* £? ve for « seen > while Controller of. the Navy m 1908-10, the defects which resulted m the loss of the Indefatigable and Queen Mary. Lord Jellicote, as Second Sea Lord m 1912-14 could hav.e_j»medied the defencelessness of Scapa Flow, and could also, have made any demands unbn the Admiralty when he assumed command. The Gorlma" accuracy of fire at Jutland was probably due to the exceptional training m markmanship. Their fire control was, less complicated' than that of the British.