The British Navy.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13397, 21 September 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

The British Navy.

A GREAT REVIEW. Arnold 'White, commenting on the greatreview of th? Home Fleet on the Solent en August 3rd, when nearly 200 warships were paraded, wrote:— The question of questions in all, our hearts was —is this a meaningleso pageant, or tha successful expression of sober national resolve to be supreme at sea? Twenty-four miles'of ships of war, 35,000 officers and men, and the visible outlay of over £40,000,000 of the people's taxes—these thinge were seen. Still, ships, men, and money galore may belong to modem Babylon on the eve of her doom if the unseen" factors of war-worthiness are wanting. From the Dreadnought to the oldest tJestrover, all was impressive; but impressions not founded on reason are sterile emotions. Subjected to a storm of criticism, the Home Fleet, anchored in the Sclent, 6tood before the world on Saturday, awaiting the verdict of the jury of the nation.

The Commander-in-Chief has been appointed a few months. Hfe name—Bridgeman —is unknown to the public. Even knighthood came to him only on Saturday. He is no talker. You never see complaintc, pleadings, or protest in the newspapers associated with his name. Yet he commands 188 ships. He is one of the silent admirals—like the . First Sea Lord. Bnt he is evidently an efficient commander, for the assembly of 188 pennants in the Solent on Saturday, which collectively occupy ahigher place in the fleet of merit in gunnery than the Channel Fieef,, is in it-self solid evidence of the spirit that pervades Admiral Bridgeman's command. In August 1907 good gunnery means good discipline; in August ISO 7 good gunnery could bo obtained from sensual men subjected to savage punishments from repeated use of the cat, incarceration, and iror.fi. To-day no punishments procure good gunnery. To work a turret with two 12in. guns "the cheery, voluntary, and synchronous efforts of sixty-three men are required . One of them can spoil the show for the other sixty-two. So with the 6in. gun. Thirteen men meet work like one. To elicit the most strenuous and intelligent efforts from the men of the Home Fleet, good discipline can only result from consummate skill in the management of men. In 1887 the assembly of ships reviewed by the Queen was a sham, because it was destitute of necessaries for war. The nation wasi mdskd. It thought itsc-lf secure and strong when it w.i 3 insecure and weak. To-day, with all the eight King Edwards, the Duncans, and the Formidabks attached to other fleets, the Home Fleet is quietly prepared to ''take on" any power likely to attack us.

Compared with 1887. the bluejackets and stokers of 1907 have a harder time, became a higher standard of discipline is .required of them. As we pafii.d ship after ship of the Natal class of armoured cruiser one noted that portholes are absent. Th? armoured sides are solid but for the gun ports. Think what thh means for officcrsX and men. It means existence in artificial light from New Year's Day to December 31, except when on deck. How many paupeie in London workhouses would stand d'ark-ii-s-s or created light without an appeal to Mr Burns? Discipline of a very high order is needed to enable men to endure existence in artificial light. The omission r.i portholes from recent designs is one result of Tsushima. A line- of portholes is a iin? of cleavage under heavy gunfire, and to .-eeure greater strength for three hours on the day of Aimageddon rnosb of

the officers and men in the armoured cruisers eat and write in artificial light. The ships of 1887 wer«i more comfortable but le-s. formidable than those of to-day; and war sliengtJi to-day haii Iw.'n bought; not only with landsmen's taxes, but at the cost of seamen's comfort.

No onlooker could fail to be struck with the absence of ohsehne appliances. Stockless anchors were universal. " Wireless " was fitted to even- ship, and "wirelens" of the iat-est, and "best. The guns of th£ old Majestic class outclass the guns of modem German ships. As to smartness — the "spit and polish" which rightly has still a great, place in the Navy, distinguished the Dreadnought, Cressy. Cochrane, and Natal. They were conspicuous for perfect, alignment of the crews, and general smarrnses in detail. Young men command young men on ninety-five craft, where everyone carries his life- in his hands in peace time, and each crew volunteers for a forlorn hope in action. The destroyers have' been sung in verse by Mr Kipling, but a new song is needed. * Destroyers are the first line of defence. Battleships may settle the war, but destroyers will bear the brunt. They are- the. eyes and the stings of the Navy; they are our protection against raid or invasion, and are war motor-cars, that can only be used by the pick of the nation, well trained; The lieutenant, who commando his destroyer to the satisfaction of Admiral Montgoiiierie is a man of part's, and when one hears of the decadence of our race, and of the decay of patriotism, Cassandra may be fitly shown the destroyers and submarines. No decadent race can use cither. No better school for nerve, decision, and all that- makes a man exists anvwher?.

The future Trafalgar is already won or lost on the destroyers and submarines. On them the new discipline is seen in perfection . Trifles like buttons and seams count for naught. War fitness is all in all. Everyman is a steam-man as well as a seaman. .-The result is efficiency." The review of the Home' Fleet sets one. thinking as to the use to which this aggregation of mysterious force is to be applied. England wants no territory. We.ssek no expansion. Peace is our goal. The old! order is passing . John Burns, who in 1887 was shouting' from Cleopatra's Nee-dl? on the Embankment, is-in 1907 a-Cabinet Minister on the Enchantress. ' The force that John Burns represents' decides the use to which the new Navy shall be putt; its standard of - efficiency •- the money that •shall be spent. As the. last illuminations die away, and the silence of night-settles on the anchored fleet, th? question;of:question's again arise.-,. Is- this a meaningless pageant? No!-No! No.! ■■■• *-■"'