[To THY EDITOR Or THE 0 £11.1tOrATOR.1
Sne,---In your issue of January 5th your correspondent " Civis " refers to a shilling brochure published by us, and entitled " The Truth about the Navy : with Some Account of the Development of the German Fleet," and he indulges in reflections as to its authorship intended evidently to depreciate it in the eyes of your readers. It is claimed that "an examina- tion of the pamphlet shows that it differs essentially from other • books issued to ships' libraries which are mainly useful for • information and reference. It is really an inspired explana- tion and defence of recent Admiralty action."
We are requested by the writer, " Excubitor," to state that the idea of publishing this brochure was the author's own, and was not suggested to him by any one. He is alone responsible for the title and the contents. As to the
• latter, your anonymous correspondent will find that the matter is drawn from official publications issued in this country and in Germany, and where other matter is intro- . duced its source is indicated. It was issued because the public do not read Blue-books, and it was thought that a consecutive story of the work of reform undertaken by the Admiralty would be appropriate at a moment when so many misrepresentations are being circulated. The writer states that he holds no brief for the Admiralty, and all his life has
• been a critic of Admiralty policy where he has thought it at fault; and he yields to none in his belief that the British Fleet must be maintained at the two-Power standard with a margin . over, and that it must be organised for war. It is because he bolds this belief that he issued the brochure. So far as it refers to the British Fleet, it is merely a connected record of Admiralty policy for two years, based an official papers issued to the public from time to time, and probably forgotten. In this, the writer contends, it differs in no respect from other books issued to libraries of his Majesty's ships. For instance, the last " Naval Annual," issued to the Navy by the Admiralty at a cost . of hundreds of pounds, was for the most part a lengthy eulogy .of Admiralty policy in shipbuilding, &c., though it contained also an article by Mr. Bellaire attacking the new education scheme, as the former issue had contained articles strongly criticising phases of Admiralty policy. Is it contended that the Admiralty may circulate Mr•. Bellahs's criticisms of their work at the taxpayers' expense, but are debarred from issuing a plain statement of the facts as revealed in Blue-books which do not reach the Fleet, and which in the present case happen to have been summarised in a cheap form with the hope of shedding light on current controversy P
We are asked to add that the author had absolutely no expectation when the pamphlet was produced that the brochure would be issued to ships libraries, and he has no knowledge of the circumstances which led to the order being received by us in the ordinary course of business.—We are, Sir, &c.,
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