New-York tribune., 1909-04-16
WHY BERESFORD WENT
Grand lfanGuJres to Decide Eng
lands Future NaUal Pollen.
n,ap,rsght. laee. by the Brentwood companyo

Copyright. 1899. by the Brentwood Company
T-rou the verdict of Admiral Sir William May will
.e,end the decision of the English government as
% whether 1t is necessary to increase the number
=, those terribly costly warshps known as Dread
,ouchts There large number of naval ex-
s-ts on both sides of the Atlantic who are by no
means enthusiastic the subject Of this partcu-
lar type Of vessel. and who condemn the policy OF
,i-tuallv ernbarking all the money available for
-.o-ftir1e defences il the construction Of these
rius 10 the exclusion Of others less powerful They
,,sist that Dreadnoughts are overrated. and are
verv vulnerable to attack from torpedo boat de-
strove-s especially at night
Sir william Nav. who has just succeeded Lord
CHARLES Beresford IN command Of the main feet
=, rhe navy a feet which, in point of numbers IS
.e largest and most powerful ever assembled under
ono command will shortly engage in elaborate ma
-7euyres in which the home squadrons. with their
Tlreadnoughts. will represent the attacking force
While the defenders will be the various Channel and
Atlantic sQuadrons which have Dreadnoughts
as vet but particularly strong in fast and heav
,v srnlored cruisers and in torpedo destroyers. Ii
Sc r5non the result of these manoeuyres which will
be conducted with the utmost secrecy. that the
f,,-ura policy Of England in the matter Of naval
orst-,lc1ion viii depend. and il is because of the
vast Importance of the issue at stake that Lord
Charles has been directed haul down his flag
and 10 turn over his command to Admiral Sir Will
lam May. whose forces will be almost twice
large as those under Beresford.
Sir William is regarded. not only al the Admir-
air, st whitehall bat also among naval experts
abroad as the ablest commander and as the cIev-
crest and most resoUrceful strategtst of the British
navy: Infinitely superior in this respect 10 the
widely known Sir Charles. Il was just because Of
-bfs rre-e1fnence that it was considered in govern
rsn- circles in London Of the vital Importance
,Aat he rather than Beresford should have the su-
rreule direction Of the impending manuuvres upon
which as I have mentioned above. all the future
naval policy Of Great Britain viii depend. That Is
ths tue reason Of the suFersesson of Lord Charles.
:, which 50 much capital has been made by his
friends and which has been ascribed by the enemies
of the administration professional jealousy and
n the ennry Of the First Sea Lord Of the Admir-
slty Admiral of Fleet Sir John Fisher.
Sir William. who Is about TO enter his six
,,eth year looks nearly twenty years younger and
wears on his breast tn medal of Admiral Sir
George Mares Arctic expedition in 1915 Il was he
who added Christmas Island to the British empire,
assuming charge Of the annexation and has proba-
hly done any other officer in the service
70 develop the use the torpedo Of which he is
gsrded as the leading expert OF the day. number
Of the maritime powers are personally acquainted
with him. through his service in their capitals
naval attache of the British Embassy, and before
becoming controller of the navy. commander Of the
Atlantic feet and Lord Commissioner of the Adj
niralty. he acquired immense amount Of
perience as chief Of staff of the Mediterranean feet
Il the days when il regarded the most i'm
portant force Of the navy. He a particular
tavorite Of QUEEN Victoria also stands high in
good graces of the Kaiser, 70 whose service he has
usually been attached when that monarch has Wis
tied England. and enjoys the distinction, somewhat
rare among British naval men. Of being remark
ably good IngIist.
Despite the secrecy with which everything in con-
rsction with the impending manpuvres is enveloped
may be stated that the combined fleets will rem
devious in the Firth Of Forth prior 70 the COM
rnencerent Of the operations.