24 JANUARY 1969, Page 3

A hundred years ago

I-ranz the 'Spectator', 23 January I869—The Ad- miralty has issued a Circular directing that all officers under their command shall be as eco- nomical as possible, particularly avoiding all unnecessary work. Officers in command must watch over stores and-coals, officers in charge of dock- yards should forbid unremunerative work. and all officers should restrict writing as much as possible. The order is, we presume, intended to warn the entire Service that economy is the order of the day, and may as an advertisement of that fact be useful. Otherwise we should have thought the Navy already aware that Government would rather it cost nothing.