TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1124, 18 December 1914, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

EPOCHAL LETTERS.

PRINCE LOUIS TO MR CHURCHILL.

October 28, 1014. Der.r -Mr Churchill,—l liavo lately been driven to the painful conclusion that nt this juncture my birth and parentage lia-vo the effect of impairing m some respects my usefulness on the Board of Admiralty. In these circumstances I feel it to be my duty, as n loyal subject, of his Majesty, to resign the office of First Sea Lord, hoping thereby to facilitate the 'task of the administration of the great Service, to which I have dovotea my life, and to ease the burden laid on H.M. Ministers. I am, yours very truly, LOUIS BATTEyDEJtC, Admiral. MR CHURCHILL TO PRINCE • LOUIS. October 29, 1914. My Dear Prince Louis,--This is to ordinary war, but a struggle between nations for life or death. It raisespassions between races of the most terrible kind.' It effaces the old landmarks and frontiers of our civilisation. ,

I cannot further oppose the wish you have during the last few weeks expressed .to ine to be released from the burden of responsibilty which you have bcrno thus far with so much honour and success, Tho anxieties, and _ toils which rest upon tho naval administration of our country are in themselves enough to try a man's spirit; and when to them are added tho ineradicable difficulties of which you speak I cou'.d rot at this juncture in fairness ask you to support them. ' The Navy of to-day, and still more the Navy of to-morow, bears the imprint of your work. The enormous impending influx of capital ships, thescore of thirty-knot cruisers, the das* trovers and submarines unequalled in modern construction which are coming now to hand, are the results-of labours which we have had in common, and in which the Board of Admiralty owe 30 much to your aid, Tho first step which secured the timely concentration of the Fleet was taken by you,

I must express publicly my deep indebtedness to you, and the pain I feel at the severance or our three years' official association. In all the circumstances you are right in your decision. The spirit in which you have acted is the same in which Prince Maurice of Battenberg has given his life to our cause, and in which your gallant son is now serving in the Fleet.

I beg you to ncept my profound respect and that of our colleagues on the Board.

I remain, yours very sincerely, Winston S. Chotchtli,.