The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-20
DEEP Discomfort
IN BRITISH NAVY
King George Is Alarmed at In
creasing Number of
Desertions.
DeSertiOns.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l
London, October 19.-The growing
discomfort among the enlisted men OF
the British Navy is causing King
George considerable anxiety.
Recently His Majesty has had q
number OF personal conferences with
First Lord OF the Admiralty Winston
Churchill. for the purpose Of getting
at the real causes Of the alarmingly
increasing number Of desertions. and
the decreasing proportion Of re-en-
listments. and OF devising remedies
therefor.
When the King was An active ON
Ger of the feet he took = lively In
terest in the welfare OF his men, and
tho conditions under which they
worked. and At the time no urged
upon the authorities Q number of i'm
provements. some Of which have since
been put into effect HIS renewed
study of the subject has already pro-
duced results. mainly in the direction
Of abolishing harsh and senseless
forms of punishment that were . relic
Of the old wooden ship days
But, thus far only the fringe Of the
problem has been touched. 1t IL douot-
full II even the King himself fully ap-
preciates the extent OF the resentment
modern conditions OF sea life and work.
Admiralty omcials generally recognize
1t, however. and admittedly view the
situation with grave concern. In
navy less disciplined, OF whose men
are less securely anchored by the
chains Of tradition, the pres
emit di.anection might readily develop
into open revolt
The question Of pay Il only one Of
the numerous causes. The wage Of the
ordinary British seaman nowadays Is
very little more than II was in Nelson's
time. and has not been changed at all
in the past fifty years. despite the
enormous increase ! nthe cost OF living
After a man has bought tho additional
food rendered necessary by the scanty
die,ary-which also has not been in
creased or improved In half q cen
tury-he has on the average about Is
cents day left for himself. o.
70 provide for his family IL he
las been 50 unfortunate as to
acquire one. The rates Of pay
for the various classes OF seamen are
abou. half those OF the American navy.
without many Of the allowances and
priviIexss accorded TO the Yankee
bIuejackc. Slight additional pay Is
given for extra proficiency IN gunnery.
INIT This goes to only q selected few.
There IS no Increased compensation
for IN. married man. a. there IL In the
British army. and no allowance TO-
railroad fare or reduction in tie price
Of his tickle, 10 leave Is given when the
shin is At a distance from his home
Consequently. !; frequently happens
TIA, ..ar1er waste what little ready
money they lave around the dock-yard
towns because 81 - insufficient TO take
them 20 their families. Very fc~ Brit
ish searen are able 90 send TO their
wives more than SO q month. Even
this means that they must retain moth
ing for themselves. besides resortins
60 "dohcying" twashing other mems
clothing for price,. shoe mendins.
Lair cutting. shaving. etc. in order "a
make up the scanty pittance.
Tho seaman not Only buys his own
tis. bu. e required TO keep W up TO
shs regulation STANDARD. Frequent
changes OF pattern compel the pur-
chase Of rcw articles. Incidentally.
the price Of white duck hss tncreascc
20 cents q yard and that cf flannel 20
cents since th~ present scale Of pay
was established " b chergeo- use:
mat owing 90 she exceessve eersai
jSvse6 by the sAnirllty fer ruaning
caasaens the pgice % De0vtessas sss
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