We have refrained hitherto from commenting on the recent disclosure
of the letter written by Captain Bacon, R.N., reflecting on officers of superior rank, and printed privately by the Admiralty for the instruction of the Board. But we felt that the First Lord, in deliberately stating that this was " proper " letter to be written in the ciroumstanoes, had assumed a grave responsibility, and the concurrence of the Board of Admiralty has undoubtedly created a painful impression. The further disclosures made by Mr. Canyon Bellaire, M.P., at Oxford yesterday week only aggravate these misgivings. Mr. Bellaire stated that a letter from Captain Bacon, to Sir John Fisher, printed by the Admiralty and privately circulated to the extent of fifty copies, had just come into his possession. In this letter there is a moat injurious reference to Mr. Bellaire as having always been an incompetent officer. Commenting on this attack, Mr. Bellaire pointed out that while he had had the misfortune of standing alone in his party in this fight with the Government on the naval question, he could at least claim to have fought them honourably in the open. On the other hand, the Government had twice, through the action of the Admiralty, sought to assassinate his reputation, first by searching among the Admiralty records and arming a Member, for the purpose of attacking him, with the secret Report of a Court of Inquiry held fourteen years ago, and now by printing copies of a libellous letter at the taxpayers' expense. Captain Bacon's letter strikes at the root of naval discipline ; this carries the war even against retired officers who venture to differ from the existing regime.
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