THE NAVY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13980, 16 August 1909, Page 5

THE NAVY.

LORD BER.ESFORD'S ALLEGATIONS. A SPECIAL REPORT THEREON. Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright Received 0.0 p.m., August loth. LONDON, August 14. The sub-committee ol' the I louse of Commons appointed by Mr Asn,iiith. the Prime Minister, lifts issued a report on the recent allegations made against the ' Admiralty. ft declares that during the time covered by Admiral Lord Reresford's allegations, namely, from April, 1007, to April, IflOR, no danger to the country resulted from the Admiralty's arrangements, for war, whether considered from the standpoint of organisation or distribution' of the fleets, number of ships.or preparations of war plans.

The report. continues: —"We feel bound to add that the 'arrangement's were quite defensible in. themselves, though not ideally perfect, and were in practice seriously hampered through the l absence of cordial relations between the Board of the Admiralty and the Commander-in-Chief of the Chanfleet. The Admiralty does not apnear to have taken Lord Beresford sufficiently into their confidence regarding the reasons for the dispositions to which he took exception. Lord Beresford, on the other hand, appears to have failed to appreciate or carry out the spirit of the Board's instructions and • to recognise their paramount authority.'' • The committee were impressed with the differences of opinion among officers of high rank on naval strategy and tactics, and' look forward with much confidence to the further development of a naval war 'staff, from which the''naval members of the Board and flag officers and their staffs at sea may "ho expected to derive common • benefit.; - • '