The sun., 1916-11-30
JELLICOE'S POST Is
TAKEN BY BEATTY
Commander Of British Grand
Fleet Becomes First Sea
Lord Of Admiralty.
CHANGE IS WELCOMED
Critics Of Navy Policy Called
for Actual Fighters in
Charge Ashore.
CHANGE IS WELCOMED

LONDON, Nov. 2s.-Admiral Sir John
Jellicoe. commander Of the British feet.
was appointed to-day First Sea Lord OF
the Admiralty. being succeeded in COM
mand Of the grand fleet by vice-Ad-
miral Sir David Beatty. who commanded
the British battle cruiser squadron In the
Jutland naval battle.
Admiral Jelilcoe succeeds Admiral Sir
Henry Jackson. who had been at the
Admiralty since May. 1916. when he
took the place vacated by Lord Fisher.
Admiral Jackson has been appointed
president Of the Royal Naval College
at Greenwich.
The announcement OF the change In
command Of the British grand fleet was
made In the House OF Commons by A.
j. Balfour. First Lord OF the Admiralty.
Mr.. Balfour said there would he changes
also In the board OF the Admiralty. The
decision involving the appointments Of
Admirals Jellicoe. Beatty AMI Jackson
was taken some time ago, Mr.. Balfour
said. but for military reasons the an
nouncement was delayed.
Other Changes Coming.
On being asked whether the changes
In the Admiralty meant other changes
In higher commands Mr.. Balfour replied
that undoubtedly there would be
changes. which would be announced in
the ordinary course.
The vital changes In the management
OF the navy announced to-day will be
greeted enthusiastically by the country.
There has been a demand for an in
fusion OF new life on the board of the
sea lords at Whitehall. The case Il
presented by the critics was that none
OF the sea lords had had active service
afioat during this war, that more than
two years OF warfare had brought about
radical changes In methods and that
the active direction Of the fleets by the
Admiralty should be In the hands uf
officers who had participated In md
worked out the latest sty.e Of operations.
Admiral Jsilicoe's appointment as
First Sea Lord is taken as proof that
the Government recognized the force OF
these criticisms.
Sir David Beatty's promotion to the
command of the grand fleet gives the
Governments answer to criticisms.
mostly from abroad. that ne showed
rashness In the way he threw his battle
cruiser %squadrons into the Jutland fight.
Notable Figures Pass.
-Four important figures formerly in
/ control OF the Navy have passed from
Whitehall since the war began. These
are Prince Louis OF Battcnberg. Baron
Fisher and Admiral Jackson, all Of
whom were First Sea Lords. and Wins
ton Spencer Churchill. who was First
Lord Of the Admiralty.
other changes In the way Of bringing
new men from the fleets to whitehall
are foreshadowed. Apparently Mr.. Bal
four retains his ofice az First Lord OF
the Admiralty. although some Of the
same ~ewspaper which called for Col.
Churchills retirement have been turn
ing their guns upon Mr., Ralfour. hut
from n different angle. While they con-
sldered Churchill too impctuous and dis
posed to interfere with matters of
strategy they regard Mr.. Balfour too
slow and conservative.
Admiral SIR John Rushworth JellIcoe.
X. &. II, X. =. V. o, assumed supreme
command Of the British home fleets on
August 4, 1914. with the acting rank OF
Admiral. He had been Second Sea Lord
OF The Admiralty since 1912. and Is 81
years old.
Rear Admiral Sir David Beatty has
for some time been commanding E,g
lands battle cruiser squadron. lie 10 the
youngest OF rear admirals. and Is now
the youngest man who ever commanded
England's grand fleet, being only Al
years of age. His wife Is an American
formerly Ethe Field. daughter OF tn,
late Marshall Field Of Chicago.
Beatty was the British naval com
mander OF the cruiser squadron which
encountered the German fleet In IN,
North Sea and fought the naval battl.
OF .Jutland which followed on May 81
1916. Before this he had commanded
squadrons in the battles Of Heligolant
and in that which resulted In sinking
Of the German cruiser Bluecher.