BRITAIN'S NAVY TO DAY

Southland Times, Issue 19894, 12 June 1926, Page 7

BRITAIN'S NAVY TO DAY

IS THE NATION LOSING TOUCH? The writer of a series of articles in The Times, dealing with the post-war British Navy, states (writes a Sydney Sun correspondent) that in one respect, at least, the personnel has not changed from what it used to be in the old days. He himself had returned from many weeks spent at sea upon all manner of modern naval craft, during which he studied the new Navy and compared it with the Navy of his own days —he happens to be, by the way, one of the most distinguished authors of naval books. More than all, he was reflecting upon the vast alterations which had come to pass even in the few years since the end of the war. He thinks that since the war the British nation seems to have lost touch with its Navy. "I consider,” he says, "that the nation’s knowledge of, and interest in, its Navy has decreased of late years.” This lack of knowledge is the more unfortunate because of the change which has come over naval warfare and the increasing need that the general public should have a fair knowledge of what is to be expected of the Navy in time of war. "There was a tendency in the old days,” he writes, "to concentrate upon the perfecting of material and upon its employment in individual ships in competition with each other, without basing everything upon lessons which stand out from the pages of history. A very large proportion, I should say the majority, of our naval personnel entered upon the Great War with a sort of general impression, with no historical backing, that a war at sea opened with a decisive battle, in which both sides fought to a finish. The same impression was almost universal with the public. In these days I find naval officers increasingly imbued by the lessons taught by experience in this and in preceding ages, and I find the influence of this knowledge apparent in all evolutions and exercises.

"The nation would benefit greatly if similar knowledge were spread amongst the people. It would be an inestimable boom to our responsible sea officers if, in times of emergency, they had behind them the force of a public opinion acquainted with the nature of sea warfare. They have never had this in the past.” It would seem, therefore, that the British Empire can do a lot more for the Navy than providing the money for its upkeep, being proud of it, and thinking of it in the terms of our patriotic songs. There is no harm in the tax payer and the patriotic citizen being asked to bear in mind just one illuminating fact. The modem development of the gun and torpedo, naval history teaches us, has produced the result “that as it seldom suits both sides to fight a decisive action, no admiral will be able to force an issue at extreme ranges.” The weight of ammunition, which includes torpedoes at a ton apiece, would alone make such a decisive action impossible. The ships could not carry enough. The author records the impression gained by conversing with people of all types ashore, . that the British race is actually losing its old "sea-sense,” which has carried the nation and the Empire through the most critical periods of our history. It would appear that we no longer believe in that old principle, which has been embodied for centuries in the Articles of War, that upon the Navy, “under the good providence of God, the wealth, safety, and strength of the kingdom chiefly depend.” But this man came ashore after his many weeks with every branch of the service convinced that the Navy is everything that it ever was, and more.

Lately two changes have been instituted in what might be termed the Navy’s domestic economy, which are typical of much that this naval expert has to say upon the new order which rules below deck. Salt pork is abolished, and cups replace bowls for tea. The old tradition pictured the British Jack Tar as a very hard citizen afloat and a rowdy person ashore. To-day, he says, the seamen of the Navy are a sober, law-abiding body of men, comparing very favourable in these respects with other classes in the country. A large proportion are married, leading a steady family life and forming excellent householders. They take a great pride in their homes, many of which are their own, having been bought out of savings. They have a stake in the country, and are the best of citizens. They get three fortnights a year leave in home ports. When they visit foreign ports the officers go to a deal of trouble to keep them out of mischief and protect them from snares. For instance, when a squadron visited a Spanish port not long ago, a circular was issued to every man advising him what food and drink it were best to have, warning him what he had best avoid, warning him, too, against the class of drinking houses he should steer clear of.

"As a result of all this,” we are told, “and the stamp of man now on the lower decks, the harpies that used to ply libertymen with bad drink and rob them of their belongings and of their self-respect now find themselves confronted with well-educated men (some of the boys join from secondary schools), taking an intelligent interest in the countries which they visit, and well fitted to uphold the reputation of the nation and the service which they represent.” A few hours’ acquaintance with the man-of-war at sea proved to the expert that one thing has remained constant throughout—namely, the spirit that pervades a ship’s company.

It has not suffered from the improvement in dietary, ventilation, and the enormous improvements of the amenities of ths lower deck.