LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE NAVAL WAR STAFF.
[To TEl EDITOR OF TER "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—It may be well to warn your readers not to place too much faith in the latest Admiralty Memorandum. The words " War Staff" have a high-sounding ring, but may not neces- sarily mean salvation. In this particular case they cover a return to the organization existing some nine or ten years since. The Intelligence Department of that day was divided into exactly the same three divisions as is now proposed. The new arrangement is exactly the same as the old except that everything and everybody has been relabelled. The Director of Naval Intelligence has become tho Chief of the Staff, and the heads of the old divisions are now called Directors of Opera- tions, Intelligence, and Mobilization. The same faults are
reproduced. The Chief of the Staff is interposed between the Sea Lords and the Directors, who ought to be in close con- tact, as is now the case at the War Office—Operations and Intelligence with the First Sea Lord and Mobilization with the Second. The opportunities for mischief given to an ambitious man are not inconsiderable.
Opportunities to study the higher branches of their profes- sion are to be given to junior officers. This is most necessary and should lead them hereafter to pursue for its own sake that knowledge which will be indispensable to them in the higher ranks. These young men should remember that unlike the general in command of an army an admiral does not require a numerous staff to enable him to manage and control a fleet. Hence from the nature of things Staff appointments are not to be looked for. It is true that some positions of the garrison instructor class may be made for them, but such work is calculated to breed prigs rather than naval officers of the best type. Not thus, but by adding study and reflection to the active practical duties of their profession should they seek to fit themselves for high command. The First Lord's Minute appointing permanently an additional Civil Lord to deal with matters relating to " supply " recalls attention to the immense mistake made eighty years ago. Previous to that the Board of Admiralty were free to concentrate their attention on the best way to use the Navy in war. They were then saddled with " supply," which has never ceased to divert their minds from the true end and aim of their existence, the conduct of war. If the new appointment indicates an inclination to revive the Navy Board than indeed we may have hope of some improvement.—
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