[To THE . EDITOR OF THE "SrEcTrroa.1 SIR,—With regard to* the
second point of Sir N. Bowden. Smith's letter in last week's Spectator—viz. : "The enor- mous increase in fighting power at reduced cost produced by the withdrawal of small vessels from foreign stations and the formation of squadrons in Commission in Reserve" —the latest communication from the Admiralty to the Press shows quite clearly that the squadrons at present in commission at sea have to be depleted of six battle- ships in order that the squadrons in Reserve may be kept up. This is not due to any action on the part of the Government of to-day; it is produced by the absolute necessity of bringing ships now in commission into dock- yard hands for repairs. In other words, our present numerical strength in battleships will not permit the " nucleus-crew " system to be worked and our active-service squadrons to be maintained at the same time, which objection was patent to all practical naval officers when the scheme was initiated. Concerning the withdrawal of small vessels from foreign stations, Sir N. Bowden-Smith will probably admit that the very finest training-ground for officers and men was thereby abandoned ; nothing can replace the training and experience which the ship's company of a small vessel on a foreign station get from such service, and the withdrawal of these vessels will be severely felt in years to come when the Naval Service is officered and manned by people the large majority of whom have never been farther afield than the home waters and the Mediterranean, and never longer away than for more than a few hours from the flag of an AdmiraL The effect of the absence of the British flag for long periods from the distant ports and anchorages of the world needs no lengthy exposition.—I am, Sir, &c., TAXPAYER.
Previous page
