NAVAL OFFICERS PRAISED

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1931, Page 11

NAVAL OFFICERS PRAISED

COMMONSENSE OF ACTIONS FIRST LORD REVIEWS STRIKE INQUIRY INTO HARDSHIPS CRITICISM IN PARLIAMENT By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright, Rec. 7 p.m. London, Sept. 17. A tribute to the senior officers commanding the Atlantic Fleet was paid by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Austen Chamberlain, in the House of Commons to-day, for the tact and commonsense of their actions, which he believed would be warmly echoed by the men of the fleet. Regarding the lower deck, Sir Austen said that although there was action which could not be excused he might almost say that if such action had been taken at all it snoke well for the general discipline of the navy that it should have passed so quietly without disturbance. He felt confident that in accordance with the tradition of the service the men would -loyally uphold it and would look not back to what had happened but forward to rendering further service to their country. After dealing with detailed criticisms of the cuts, Sir Austen said with regard to special cases of hardships and unfairness that the Admiralty would make an inquiry with the hope of finding a method of alleviating hardship. The general scheme of economy laid down by the Government was required in order to restore national prosperity and regain national credit. They could not allow the scheme to be eaten away in detail but they were ready in the case of exceptional hardship to provide a remedy if they could. That was the purpose of the inquiry which would be opened by the respective Commandcrs-in-Chief at the earliest possible moment after the arrival of the ships at their home ports. LATE CABINET'S ACTIONS. Commander Southby asked if the navy cuts had been agreed to provisionally by the late members of Cabinet. Sir Austen Chamberlain: “That is not easy to say, but when I arrived at the Admiralty I found there an order that the cuts should be made.” Mr) A. V. Alexander (late First Lord): “Was not the late Cabinet- specifically warned by the Admiralty of the danger of what has since occurred. Were the details not left for discussion with the Chancellor and Mr. MacDonald and advice given by the Admiralty that the men would loyally accept cuts if all the Public Service shared them and’ there was also an’ adequate cut in the unemployment pay ” When the loud Ministerial cheers subsided Mr. W. J. Brown asked: "If the manoeuvres are entirely suspended should the police, teachers and members of the Civil Service interpret a strike as their only weapon?” The Speaker here intervened. Captain. W. G. Hall (Central Portsmouth) who had made a detailed criticism of the cuts and received the solid support of the Opposition, moved an adjournment to discuss the trouble, in which he under stood 12,000 naval ratings had adopted passive resistance. He commended the Commanders-in-Chief for promptitude and commonsense but he personally was of opinion that the Government had broken definite obligations towards the men, many of whom were facing difficulties. The men appeared* to have acted with restraint. There had been no untoward incident and no riot. Sir Austen said it spoke well for the general discipline that it had passed so quietly. There had been no disturbance except in the actual routine of duty. The recall of the fleet appeared to have conveyed an inaccurate impression of what actually had occurred. The admiral recalled some of the ships which had already gone to sea for exercises. It was not correct for Captain Hall to say the fleet was united in this matter; that was unfair to those who had remained perfectly loyal. The great majority of the petty officers had not deserted their duty. When Labour members sought to continue the debate there were loud cries of “Agreed” and Captain Hall withdrew his motion. DISCUSSION DURING WEEK-END. It is understood the Commanders-in-Chief have been summoned to the Admiralty to discuss a plan for holding the inquiry. Probably Admirals Sir A. K. Waistell, Portsmouth, Sir Hubert Brand, Devonport, and Sir R. W. Tyrwhitt, The Nore, will meet during the week-end. Leave will be granted members of the Atlantic Fleet on their arrival at Portsmouth. The Atlantic Fleet left Invergordon without a hitch during the night, and will be variously arriving at Portland, Devonport and Chatham on Saturday and Sunday. The men have expressed indignation at the suggestion made in some quarters that their representations have a political character. Civilian opinion ashore, while sympathising with those naval men on whom the burden of the nation-wide economy cuts have borne with particular heaviness, and while expressing undiminished affection and admiration for the Navy, is critical of the manner employed in drawing attention to the grievances. The Daily Mail makes a typical comment: "The naval ratings concerned may have a real grievance. If that is proved to be the case everyone will want to see it repaired, but the men of the Atlantic Fleet' have chosen the wrong means to draw attention to it. They cannot hav® paused t® think ©f the effect ox their action upon foreign nations

at a time when the welfare of the country mainly depends upon keeping British credit abroad. We who know the British bluejackets are in no danger of doubting them, but foreigners cannot be expected to draw our fine distinctions.” GERMAN NEWSPAPER SUSPENDED. INVITATION BY REDS PUBLISHED. Rec. 7 p.m. Berlin, Sept. 17. The Government has suspended the Fotefahne for publishing the Communist Party’s telegram inviting the British naval ratings to participate in a political class war and for publishing exaggerated reports of the troubla. . . .