NAVAL REFORM

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13014, 29 June 1906, Page 2

NAVAL REFORM

OBSOLETE IDEAS. TRAINING-AFLOAT. * (By Arnold White.) The evolution of the arts and crafts of naval war is so rapid that there is no improved system in gunnery, mechanics, or tactics, the flank of which may not be turned to-morrow morning by a rival Power. Long-range firing was not developed in our Navy until ten years after other countries v had'adopted the system. .It is for just such an . opportunity as this, that an intelligent but nominally weaker Tower lies in wait. Material may generally be improvised at a price, a trained officer never. The result in a twentieth century sea war is- decided before the first shot is fired, since the fight is the corollary of the training. The god of war is sightless. The basis of a naval officer's training should be, first, the practice of. command; and, third, the observation of- 'the fall of shot under war. conditions. The idea th'at modern inaval warfare can be learned by academic courses at' gunnery schools is a delusion. Certain branches of knowledge, it is true, must be acquired on. shore, especially in connection with big guns, but the ship of war in comiaissioa should bathe r principal school- of naval instruction,, aiid it is high time that the routine of the Navy'should be altered' from • end to end; if we are to avoid surprises in war! Most dispiriting and enervating is the system of harbour watches or of .employing 100 men on the work of twenty.. PERNICIOUS TRADITIONS." Bright work and the excessive devotion to paint should be forbidden. The work of a ship's crew a.t sea is' now incessantly interfered with by the working of a ser-. vicp rule for which there is no reason. If the flagship spreads ,an awning every other ship in the squadron must do the same even if her men are being, trained in the art of quick bitting. The atmosphere of formality and pretence which involves the presence of an officer on the quarterdeck, is a survival of the time when the ship was propelled by an external force: Watch keeping must be replaced by brain work.' The genius of Nelson, and of every otheu great exponent of the art of war, was the product of ceaseless thought' and exact study.

legislation is required to restore ths' practice that- ruled in Nelson's, day of rani---ing warships self-supporting to a very much' larger extent.than is now the case. Skilled artizans, artificers, and engineers are provided' -who are capable of executing- repairs that are usually brought to the dockyards. Immense sums of money are wasted in tins way, and the naval 1 strength- of the country is reduced by the withdrawal of ships from their proper stations by ■ trifling ailments which ought to: be treated on tie spot._ It is true that; within the last . year the Sea- LoriJs have attached a repair ship, to each of the great squadrons, but careful ships' husbandry, which was 6ne of Nelson's ~most characteristics,is -a faculty that has atrophied under the' ieverish extravagance.. of the v late Governlisnt:.!: . c ' ' • •V. WASTED- OFFICERS,

Tils waste of mind in the Navy, though less material, is worse than the waste of money. The junior officers of the nucleus crew ships at the home ports have practically nothing tti do in the afternoon. Most of these ships hare three a marine'officer, and a commander,: and -with tie exception Of the officer of'the'day their time is after "luncheon." Some of thein sleep in the afternoon; others amuse themselves, and from ennui are some-' times' inblined to ' spen/i more mtfney than they can properly afford. The complexity of modeua naval warfare is so great that constant study is essential if we'are to keep pace, with . German.naval , officers. The average' British; naval' officer is at least intellectually the equal of the German naval officer,' but lie does not enjoy the same opportunities for' learning his profession. If voluntary lectures amd war games were started in the naval, barracks at the different ports about- 90; per "cent, of the officers would! patronise them. They would stimu-j late the intellect and direct the thoughts ] of'-energptic officers into proper • channel?.; ! The art of wax would be studied as it is studied in, the German An. officer ,writes to me: " When I go into the>wardroom in the afternoon and notice most of : the officers asleep or dozing, I think tihat 1 on such'j training success in modem warfare is not likely to be built." The matter could be easily arranged by appointing eneijgetic officers to tKe • command of the several naval barracks and giving them instructions to develop the idea of voluntary lec- : tures 'and war - games on--their own lines: The cost would.be trifling,-but momey spent on the /education of ; our naval officers is better spent than on range-finders that won't find the range or electric light that is turned on when there is tnobady : to* enjoy it. The war courses at the different ports for senior officers are an : excellent ideai: but the education of the younger, offi^ cers is appallingly neglected. . : There is another naval reform required: which is long, overdue. There is np common ground whfere naval officers can discuss service matters." Supposing an officer has a valuable idea on such a subject as tactical formations he cannotf give -theses ideas directly to the Navy, much less <sans he make 'certain of gaining -any credit' for ike .same. ,The American, navy has: a Naval Institute and a quarterly magazine' whichgives thei .proceedings., „. W-hati-otte; Navyrequires is the establishnaent ioi axmonthly magazine,:.edited by : tbe/NaM^n^igence; Department, and giving 'able the iiames of the"auihors' attached. The magazine should- be semiofficial ; that is, it should not be issued tq the public*, but-supplied to every captain,' wardroom, j+itmroonv and:mess. ;»• . None of these reforms require legislation;? but the be- v cheapened- "and strengthened if they were carried into effect.