19 MARCH 1904, Page 17

THE GATE OF THE NAVY.

[To TEl EDITOR 07 TEl "SPECTATOR."]

Sin,—Wishing to place one of my boys in the Navy, I was anxious to learn how boys are now selected for that Service. Accordingly, I read the recent Blue-book entitled "New Scheme of Naval Training : Selection of Candidates for Nomination as Naval Cadets." A Committee reported the classification to the First Lord, who then proceeded to make his nominations. Nothing is said regarding the proceedings of the First Lord. Did he only nominate boys classified by the Committee as fit ? And if so, on what principle did he select among those reputed as fit? Surely the public are entitled to some information on these points. If the First Lord makes his selection from the boys classified as fit, then

• he had to choose fifty out of eighty-one. On what principle did he choose ? But the more important question is whether boys reported as doubtful and as unfit were nominated.—

[We must refer our correspondent to the authoritative letter on this point signed "M. A." printed below; but we desire to say for ourselves that we are absolutely certain that in the case of the present First Lord no boy reported as "unfit," whatever his backing, would have the slightest chance of being nominated.—En. Spectator.]