Mr. Bellaire goes on to mention an incident which we
have always regarded as the very worst in the whole of this un- fortunate controversy. In August, 1907, the Admiralty armed an assailant of Mr. Bellaire in the House of Commons with confidential papers concerning a trifling torpedo-boat collision in 1895—that is, twelve years previously—in which Mr. Bellaire was most unfairly made to appear as an incompetent officer. This incident could not have been made public except by reference to the Admiralty records. The only object of the disclosure was to create prejudice against Mr. Bellaire. As a matter of fact, he was not, we believe, personally, though officially, responsible for the collision; but in any case, even if lie had been personally responsible, such a regrettable incident would in no way have made him incompetent to criticise Admiralty policy. We do not think that Sir George Armstrong goes at all too fax when he declares that the Admiralty com- mitted a gross and cruel breach of confidence. Not the most insignificant public office, let alone that Service " upon which under God the safety of this Realm cloth depend," could possibly thrive when such things as these are done in it.
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