THE TRAINING OF NAVAL OFFICERS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THU "SPECTATOR.1 SIE,—In your issue of April 28th appears a letter from Lieutenant Bellaire containing statements which require some examination. The letter is headed "The Training of Naval Officers," but much of the matter it contains has no con- nection with that subject, and issues are raised which are in no way involved by the new scheme of training, apparently for the sole purpose of obtaining support for Lieutenant Bellaire in his condemnation of the Admiralty.
The remarks on the private opinions of the Naval Members of the Board of 1902 are of questionable taste ; they carry their own condemnation, and need not be noticed. It is sufficient that the 1902 scheme was approved by the whole Board, and that the probability of the recent developments was publicly announced by the Parliamentary representatives of that Board.
Lieutenant Bellaire also writes : "In my remarks I, of course, include the abolition of the corps of Royal Marines as part of the large issue, for it is idle to pretend that the corps can be pre- served after all its officers have vanished." In the "Statement of Admiralty Policy" issued by Lord Cawdor in November, 1905, appear the following words :—" It is not proposed in any way to alter the organisation of the Royal Marines or to change the uniform or titles of the rank-and-file," &c. This matter therefore resolves itself into a difference of opinion between the Board of Admiralty on the one hand, and a young retired Lieutenant on the other.
In the next paragraph of his letter there is a great confusion between the engineer officers and the engine-room artificers. This appears deliberate, since Lieutenant Bellaire must know that engine-room artificers are not officers, and also that the men in the workshops of the country from whom the artificers are drawn are not engineers, or anything but skilled workmen who have served a trade apprenticeship. The statement is quite misleading that "in forming these new types of officers the Navy is to be utterly divorced from the educational and industrial life of the country. There are to be no more entries from the public, grammar, and technological schools." The new officers can come from just the same educational establishments as before, but at an earlier age ; the engine-room artificers will come from the same class as at present, but instead of serving an apprenticeship outside the Navy, they will enter as boy-artificers, and get their training within. In connection with the three thousand stokers who are, according to Lieutenant Bellaire, to be trained for watch-keeping duties at a cost of 41,800,000, it is interesting to note that the official reply to a recent question on this subject in the House of Commons was to the effect that the number stated (three thousand) was greatly exaggerated; that it was only intended to train one hundred per annum, giving the men a two years' course; and that it was impossible at the present time to estimate what the cost would be. Lieutenant Bellairs must know this, but he repeats the erroneous number, and further, on his own responsi- bility, boldly attempts the impossible, and states the cost at .2600 per man. The absurdity of this figure is apparent : even granted that it could be true, it would certainly show that at any rate the men would be efficient for the duties which they are to perform, though it might be an expensive progress.
The entry of officers into the Royal Naval Reserve was stopped because the numbers already borne are sufficient for the require- ments of the Service, and this has nothing to do with the new scheme of training. The number of engineer officers who enter the Navy by direct entry is infinitesimal; this also has nothing to do with the principles of the new system. After advocating the continuance of the direct entry of engineers on grounds of economy, it is curious to find immediately afterwards a proposal to burden the country with the maintenance of a greater number of Royal Naval Reserve officers than are required. However, since such remarks may incite those who might have joined the Royal Naval Reserve and those who might have come in by direct entry, they will serve their purpose!
The entry of Cadets from the 'Worcester' and 'Conway' is also touched upon. Never before have even the bitterest opponents of the Admiralty policy denied that a certain amount of engineering education is necessary for the modern officer ; and if such be the case it would be absurd to enter Cadets from these training-ships without some preliminary engineering instruction, —however great the "seamanship qualifications" of these young gentlemen of sixteen, who have never even been to sea.
—I am, Sir, iscc., ANOTHER NAVAL OFFICER.
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