LARGE NAVAL WAR STAFF

Waipa Post, Volume 31, Issue 1775, 26 June 1926, Page 6

LARGE NAVAL WAR STAFF

A DANGER IN TIME OF .STRIFE. One of the chief dangers to Britain during a naval war is the retention of a large Naval War 'Staff at the Admiralty, writes Sir R. Bacon in the Morning Post. The First Lord of the Admiralty not long ago stated that one reason for the present enlarged War Staff was that in future the occurrence of the mistakes made in the Great War would he prevented. If he carefully analysed the mistakes then made he would, find that they were almost entirely owing to the interference of the Admiralty with matters that should have been left to the admirals in command. At the commencement of the late war as many of the General Staff of the Army as could get away went off to the war. The same will apply to the Admiralty in future wars. That the majority of the War Staff should go to sea would be a good thing; for there they would fall under the restraint of the admirals commanding the fleets and their activities would be curtailed. But obviously their succes sors would be second-class men, so •the trouble would be intensified.

In peace time the Naval War' Staff cannot d,o much harm; they can practice formulating plans that no one will ever carry out. This is not bad practice for young officers, as it makes them think. But in war time the Naval War Staff should be reduced to a minimum, and any tendency on their part to usurp executive functions should be firmly s'3-t on.