Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19
ADMIRALTY STIRRED
British Row Has Assumed the
Acute Stage.
LORD CHARLES BERESFORD
May Have No Alternative But to
Haul Down Flag.
ISSUE OVER ARMY ESTIMATES
Labor Party Acknowledgements
Reconciliation Of Kaiser With
Duke of Cumberland.
LORD CHARLES BERESFORD
ISSUE OVER ARMY ESTIMATES
SpecjaI CORRESPONDENCE of The Star.

The great theme here is the acute crisis
in the admiralty resulting from the con-
timed strained relations between Lord
Charles Beresford and Sir Percy Scott
and Sir John Fisher. The situation is
one that can hardly be allowed to last
any longer At first, like Nelson, the
ministry turned a blind eye toward awk-
ward signals and trusted that time would
heal the breach. Instead it would seem
that time has only served to make the
situation worse 1t looks very much as if
in the interests of the navy Lord Charlie
Will be asked to retire. 1t is case, how
ever of belling the cat. The government
has no great relish for seeing the sea
dog back in the commons, making things
unpleasant when false economies give
him so many openings.
The affair has become very complicated.
There is however. no longer any doubt
that Lord Charles position must be de-
!Crmined. and the only disagreement de-
ponds upon how it will come about.
Understand the most probable course for
LIN to take will be to resign. and his
resignation will be engineered by
change in the strength of the channel
ilset. There was some talk today of Lord
Charles having delivered an ultimatum
10 the government. and if this is true
il can only be connected with the changes
in the fleet which the government is
known to have in mind. If the channel
fleet is to be gradually absorbed by the
home fleet Lord Charles command will
fade away in Importance. and he could
have no other alternative than to resign
1t is upon this question that the dispute
between Lord Charles and the admiralty
will be fought. and not upon his personal
differences with officials, either above or
below him in rank
The court of inquiry which some peo-
pie think might be demanded by Lord
Charles could not be asked or granted
unless some specific charge could be
formulated against him. There is no
question of this. The government will
choose its own ground and its own weap-
ons in this duel and that Is the meaning
of the evasve statement made by Mr..
ASquith in the house. 1t will lea leave
Lord Charles no alternative but to haul
down his flag whenever 1t finds IA
vorable opportunity. When he does leave
the navy / understand he will have
choice of seats left to him-one in York
shire. ore in seaport town. But, at
the same time, do not think his candi-
dature will receive the official sanction
of either party and will be entirely in the
interests of the navy.
:. Another Signal Incident.
The remarkable story of another signal
Incident is a symptom of the extreme bit
terness with which the naval dispute is
being carried on. 1t is alleged that an
oEG1er was given by Lord Charles Beres-
ford which, if carried out, would have re-
suited in collision and repetition Of
the oria-Camperdown disaster and
that Sir Percy Scott. disobeyed the order,
knowing that it would be disastrous
L understand that there is no doubt of
the facts of the case, as stated. that such
an order was given, and that 1t was dis
Obeyed. But it is. after all, capable of
an innocent Interpretation. An error of
judgment may have been committed
either by miscalculating the distance be-
tween the two ships or something else
may have been in contemplation when
the signal was given. Narrow cruisers of
the type concerned take about 600 yards
10 turn, and if they were 1890 yards
lision was inevitable. But the order may
have been given when the ships were
more than LOO yards apart
The real significance of the incident is
the promptness with which 1t las been
communicated from the channel fleet and
the curious manner in which it was di-
vulged in certain quarters. The COM
munication gives information which could
only have been gotten from the official log
books. II so, the question arises whether
1t is not an infringement of the official
secrets act. No doubt the law officers of
the crown will be asked to decide this
point
/ hear from one in touch with court cir
cles that the king Is greatly annoyed at
the continuance of the naval scandal and
is resolved that 1t shall he brought to an
end. He believes that the affair Is likely
TO have bad effect on the discipline and
morale OF the navy. Even admirals the
KING IS reported to have said cannot be
allowed TO behave like schoolboys. Per-
haps some indication of the kings view
of the quarrel may be found In the fact
that Sir John Fisher retains his esteem
and confidence.
The sympathies OF the man in the
oil vr,;t.
lar admiral. But equally Of. course, the
man in the street has only a hazy no.
Ton OF what the trouble is about 1t is
not generally known that Lord Charles
Beresford owes to Sir John Fish r, with
whom he is now at loggerheads, his
greatest opportunity to distinguish him
sell 1t was at the instance of Capt.
Fisher of the In1exible that the Young
captain of the Condor was told of at Al.
exandria in 1852 to be responsible for
order IN the town. and the admiralty sig
nal. well done! Condor was the re-
Another little known fact concerning
Lord Charles is that he holds three med
ais for life-saving. One was for rescu-
ing marine who had fallen overheard a
Ieat performed In heavy shooting clothes
with his pockets filed with cartridges An
other was gained when he vas a MILDLY A
boat came alongside his ship with a per
son OF some sixteen stone. when 1t sud
denly swamped whereupon little Reres
man afioat until help arrived
III is not only IN the navy that the gov
eminent Is faced with critics of its policy
and defense. There is, l understand. a
desperate struggle both in the cabinet
and between the cabinet and the army
council over the army estimates. Mr..
Haidane and his military advisers are
agreed In demanding a larger expendi-
ture on the army, but they are opposed
with the utmost energy by Mr.. Lloyd
george. who. as chancellor of the ex-
chequer. Is naturally anxious, in view of
his other obligations. 70 keep a tight hand
on his purse strings and by Mr. Winston
churchill. who has developed an extraor-
binary passion for economy and has be-
come the leader of the economists in his
party.
1t is believed that Sir William NicboI-
son mas threatened to resign should the
economists succeed, and the government
may thus be confronted with a perfect
epidemic of designations. Sir Williams
position is not exactly parallel to that of
Lord Charles Beresford. He is in the
position OF the governments adviser and
II his advice is not taken on a matter OF
what he might consider as vital policy he
would feel compelled to resign Should
he do so the way will then become clear
for the return of Lord Kitchener and a
difficult position will be satisfactorily
cleared up.
offense to Labor Party.
The labor party is greatly annoyed
that Keir Hardie's name was omitted
he HSf nf IN