The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-27
SHIPS RAD|ATE
FROM ONE CENTER
British Vessels All Answer
to Order of the Admiralty
in London
BY Associated 'rsss

London, October Spy Reciprocal
News Service. EVERY American who4has
visited London has had pointed out to
a careless indifference that wells rev-s
erence too deep to show on the surface,
squat old building with a gloomy en-
trance just off Trafalgar square. 1t is
called the Admiralty, but the word is also
used as meaning the department of the
navy. which has it's home in that squat
old building and in a large and compare
lively modern building behind it.
The admiralty discharges the functions
that formerly apreartained to the lord
high admiral of England. That office.
which recalls the spacious days of the
beginning Of Britain's sea power has. in
fact been in commission since 170S The
commissioners for executing the Of
fee of lord high admiral are now known
as the lords Of the admiralty, and the
first lord is the cabinet minister reSpon-
sible to Parliament for the navy.
During the war the admiralty has. like
all other departments of the government,
undergone changes and developments oc
casioned by the necessities of the times
The naval air service and the board OF
inventions and research are two of the
most notable of these developments, from
both of which very great advantage has
been derived in the course of the mighty
/ conflict, which from first to last de-
pended more upon the efficiency of the
British fleet than upon any other. single
factor.
The beard of admiralty is composed OF
service men and civilians. 1t is an in
teresting fact that nobody in England
ever feels the same sort of dread of
''militarisn in connection with the navy
as is often felt in connection with tine
army. The reasor. II nav he, is that the
navy is essentially the defensive service
and a service rich with such traditions
as Britons love. People no more think
OF it in an aggressive connection than
they would so think of the police force.
All the supremacy of the civil power
over the armed forces of the crown is
manifested by the constitution of the
board of admiralty. The first lord and
two civil lords of the admiralty. together
with the sea lords, Including chief OF
laval staff, and the necessary secretaries
and assistants. make up the board
The department Of naval construction.
the department. of the dirertcr OF naval
| ordnance. the department of the enginer
| in chief the compass depart ent. the
hy Geographic department. to name only
str,e Of the more important branches into
which the work of the admiralty is d.
vided. call up by their very names the
manifold and vital services for which
| the board Of admiralty Is responsible
| The best tribute to the fashion in which
4 the work Of tho admiralty Is carried on
, is to be found, probably in the character
| OF the British sailor. All over the world
he is known for his gallant good nature
| for his cheerfulness. for COURAGE care
Il SIS of personal consequences. More and
more the interests OF the lower deck ike
the interests of the private soldier. are
! seen to be tho interests OF the services
themselves Recent and notable improve
ments In pay, pensions and conditions
have been granted to the men of the
royal navy and royal MARINES