ADMIRALTY SYSTEM CONDEMNED.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11931, 30 October 1919, Page 8

ADMIRALTY SYSTEM CONDEMNED.

Second Edition. !

United Press Association—By Elec- • trie Telegraph—Copyright. Received Oct. 80, noon. London, Oct. 21. Admiral Sir Percy Scott, in his book on the Navy, condemns the Admiralty system nnder which the civilian 'element exercises undue influence, and does not offer inducements, to enterprise or originalty. He says there is too much red tape, causing delay and preventing rapid and decisive action, hence the -con fusion at the outbreak of the War. There was a lack of mines and minesweepers and other protection against mines, a great lack of anti-submar-ine protection, and no safe harbour for the Grand Fleet, The gunnery was especially defective as well as the torpedoes. Admiral Suott says that at the outbreak of the war he offered nis services to improve the gunnery, and was told that the matter was well in hand. Eventually ho was appointed gunnery adviser three months later. He mentions the delay in providing depths charges as typical of the general miohand ling of the submarine menace. The first design was submitted in October. 1914, but not brought into real use till 1916. The Admiralty greatly missed Lord Fisher's vigour after his resignation. Admiral Scott says the British guns at Jutland were generally outranged by the Gorman guns owing to the delay in supplying a system of director tiring.