New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-15
Admiral Jellicoe
Heads New Naval
Staff in Britain
First Sea Lord Chief of the
Board That Will Concen-
trate on Fighting

London, May 1.-THE formation OF
naval staff, of which Admiral Sir
John K. Jelicoe, First Sea Lord, will
be chief, was announced in the House
Of Commons to-day by Sir Edward
Carson. FIRST Lord Of the admiralty.
This change places Admiral Jcllicoc
in much the same position as General
. Robertson is IN the army. lie now
heads a board whose members can con
centrate on the fighting without the
worries and bothers incident 10 admin
istration work.
The board contains as new civil
member Sir Eric c. Geddes, who is APP
pointed to tackle the naval shlpbuild-
ing programme. Geddes. who made his
reputation as an American railway
man. has given valuable assistance to
General fIaig in France, and is largely
responsible for the network of rail
ways behind the British lines.
The reorganization. will 20 far TO
check the criticism or the Admiralty
which became so severe that Lloyd
George had to spend TWO days investi-
eating the service and consulting with
the naval heads. Within the last week
the navy has become considerably more
active in offensive tactics, as IS shown
by the Zeebrugge attack.
One of the chief demands of the crit
les of the Admiralty has been the crea-
ton of such naval staff.
The decision of the government. rep
resenting what is perhaps the most i'm
portant change in British naval meth
DDS during the war, will place direction
of the nayy's work IN the hands OF a
trained sea fighter. Sir John Joll cOe
has spent his life in the navy. He was
placed in supreme command o: the
main feet at the outbreak Of the war.
and retained that post until November
of last year, when he was appointed
First Sea Lord.
Sir Edward. in making the announce.
ment. said the changes had two-folC
object. The first was TO free the First
Sea Lord and the heads Of the naval
staff from administrative work, the
second to provide an organization in
the navy comparable with that which
supplies the army with munitions. i
was further intended to develop and
utilize to the best advantage the whole
shipbuilding resources of the country
and, so far as possible. to concentrate
the whcle organization under one au-
thorlty.
Sir Eric Geddes. he said. would be
responsible for fulfilling the shipbuld-
ing requirements of the Admiralty, the
War Office and the Ministry of Ship
ping and the stats of the three depart
ments would be placed under his con-
troll.
His duties would include also the
production of arms and ammunition.
Sir Edward said Admiral Jellicoe, the
First Sea Lord, would have the add
tonal title of Chief Of Naval Staff.
Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Oliver, Chief
of the Admiralty War staff, would be-
come an additional member of the
Board of the Admiralty. with the title
of Deputy Chief Of the Naval staff
Rear Admiral Alexander L. Duff would
become an additional member of the
Board of Admiralty. with the title of
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff.
Rear Admiral Halsey, at present
Fourth Sea Lord, is to become Third
Sea Lord. in succession TO ViceAdmira.
Frederick c. Tudor, who will be ap-
pointed Commander in Chief of the
China Station.
Rear Admiral Tothill will succeed
Rear Admiral Halsey as Fourth Sea
Lord.