THE BRITISH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 185, 23 December 1912, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

ADMIRAL BRIDGEMAN'S RESIGNATION. AN EXPLANATION. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, December 20. In the House of Commons, the Hon. E. A. Fitzroy's motion to adjourn raised the question of Admiral Bridgcman's resignation. Lord Charles Beres,ford disclaimed party feeling, or that he was not friendly with Admiral Bridgeman, who objected to Lord Beresford'g creation to Admiral, but there was much feeling in the Navy on the matter. Admiral Bridgeman was the fifth Sea Admiral whom Mr. Churchill has dismissed. Sir Arthur Wilson had received the same sort of insolent letter. He added that Admiral Bridgeman was dismissed because he had differed on technical matters. Mr. Churchill replied that Lord Beresford did not mean to be as offensive as he really was. He was an orator who did not know what he was going to say. His gross and scurrilous charges were not supported by any evidence. Admiral Bridgeman had given written assent to every act of the naval policy requiring it. His health was quite unequal to the strain, an. attack of bronchitis having followed appendicitis. Mr. Churchill accordingly consulted with the Premier and the King. '

AN ACRIMONIOUS DEBATE. Received 22, 5.5 p.m. London, December 20. In the House of Commons Lord Beresford accused Mr. Churchill of assuming executive equally with administrative functions. This was exemplified by the Sidney street riot. Similarly at the Admiralty he interfered and' took charge during the manoeuvres. Mr. Churchill said that this was absolutely untrue. "No orders or instruction," he said, "directly or indirectly, were sent by me." • Lord Boresford: "Taking charge" is a naval expression. You probably don't understand. Mr. Bonar Law remarked that Admiral Bridgeman interpreted Mr. Churchill's first letter as making it optional for him to resign. Ho replied, "Well enough, continue." Then came Mr. Churchill's second most insulting letter, intimating that the resignation was already arranged. Mr. Churchill read 'the whole correspondence, whereupon Mr. Bonar Law remarked: "Had I received a letter like the second I would have considered myself brutally ill-used. The subject then dropped, and the House adjourned until January 30.

PRESS CRITICISM. i Received l 22, 5.5 p.m. London, December 21. The Times declares that Mr. Churchill's frank statement on the Bridgeman case should prove conclusive. The subject had been overlaid by prejudice and confused by all sorts of unworthy insinuations. The Daily Mail says that Mr. Churliill's speech dissipates all suspicions. It dealt vigorously with Lord Charles Beresford's insinuations, which must be attributed to the imagination of one who had suffered disappointment, rather than to real knowledge. Many newspapers consider that Mr. Churchill had the best of the duel. His action was justified. A LENGTHY AUDIENCE WITH THE KING. (Received Dec. 23, 2.10 a.m.) London, December 22. Admiral Bridgeman had an audience with the King for over an hour at Buckingham Palace, regarding his retirement. Such audiences usually last a quarter of an hour.