The credit for taking this wise, if in a sense
obvious, precaution belongs to Prince Louis of Battenberg, who, though he privately advised a correspondent of the facts last April, withheld their publication till now from a patriotic desire to avoid anything that might injuriously affect the national interests. In this context the naval correspondent 'of the Times does well to recall the wording of Mr. Churchill's letter to Prince Louis on his retirement, in which ho stated that "the first step which secured the timely 'concentration of the Fleet was taken by- yin." 'He also 'corrects the miaapPrehension under which Sir G. Scott Robertson, M.P., labours in speaking of Prince Louis having been endowed by Mr. Churchill with full powers to act in his absence. "No such authority from the First Lord was neces- sary. Although in September, 1912, Mr. Churchill assumed ' the general direction of all business,' he could not take away from the First Sea Lord the responsibility for 'preparation for war' and for the distribution and movements of all ships in commission and in reserve,' Prince Louis, in issuing the order which prevented the dispersal of the Fleet, was fulfilling , his duty under the patent by which the Board of Admiralty is constituted."
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