NEWSPAPER COMMENT.

Wairarapa Age, 5 April 1928, Page 5

NEWSPAPER COMMENT.

DISCIPLINE IN THE HIGHER BANKS. REVIEW OF INCIDENTS DEMANDED. (Received Wednesday, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 4. “Commander Daniel's offence against the letter of the regulations is manifest,’’ says the “Daily Telegraph.’’ The verdict, therefore, was almost a foregone conclusion, but public opinion has been deeply stirred and will demand that the Admiralty and the Government review the series of Incidents which have cast a shadow over the senior service. The public is amazed and affronted at the essential pettiness thereof, and will wonder whether, amid so much talk of naval discipline, the practice of self-discipline in the higher ranks has been consistently observed.” The “Daily Express” says the public are entitled to their own opinion of the events which caused Commander Daniel to exceed limited disciplinary conduct, but the Court had to deal with the breaking of a naval law. The “Daily Chronicle” says the verdict means that no officer, under any provocation, can safely venture to exercise tho right of protest.— (Australian Press Association.) EFFECT OF SENTENCE. MAY MEAN RETIREMENT. (Received Wednesday, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, April 3. Commander Daniel’s sentence means

half-pay until the Admiralty thinks fit to employ him again, but if not given an active billet within the period fixed by the regulations, he will automatically go on the retired list on. tho retired pay of a commander, being £5OO a year. The “Daily Express” naval correspondent says that only on the rarest occasion does an officer live down such a had mark, but the Admiralty has power to modify the sentence of the Court-martial. —(Australian Press Association.)