This article was downloaded by: [Carnegie Mellon University] On: 14 January 2015, At: 08:15 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Royal United Services Institution. Journal Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rusi19 The War Wilfrid Nunn Captain and S.N.O. Published online: 12 Nov 2009. To cite this article: Wilfrid Nunn Captain and S.N.O. (1917) The War, Royal United Services Institution. Journal, 62:448, 825-849, DOI: 10.1080/03071841709433709 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03071841709433709 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub- licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions Downloaded by [Carnegie Mellon University] at 08:15 14 January 2015 THE WAR. ITS NAVAL SIDE. SOMEADXIR.ILTY CIIAXGES. In the present issue of the JOURSAL. the narrative of the naval events of the war is continued down to the end of September, 1917. The period covcred has been marked by a series of important changes at the Admiralty. On July 17th it was announccd that Sir EdKard Carson was to become a hlember of the War Cabinet, without portfolio. and that Sir Eric Geddes would succeed him as First Lord of the Admiralty. Sir Eric had been for two months the Controller of the Navy, in accordance with the changes referred to in the last issue of the JOURNAL. On June 6th, .1917, in reply to a question in Parliament, Dr. Nacnamara had made the following statement in reference to the changes in the composition of the Admiralty Board:-“The reconstituted Board of Admiralty consists of eleven members, besides the Parliamentary and Permancnt Secretaries. It includes the Additional Civil Lord, who is for the present employed by the Government in connection with other services. The duties briefly of the various members are :-First Lord : General direction. First Sea Lord, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, and Asst. Chief of Naval Staff: War operations. Second Sea Lord: Personnel. Third Sea Lord and Controller : Materiel, the former mainly require- ments, the latter production. Fourth Sea Lord: Stores and Transport. Fifth Sea Lord : Air service. Civil Lord : Works. Financial Secretaxy : Finance. Permanent Secretary : Admiralty business. Lord Lytton will rcp:escnt the Admiralty in the House of Lords.” In a speech at Cambridge on July zSth. Sir Eric Geddes said : “You may ask, How do I.view the duties of First Lord of the Admiralty? The last thing I shall do is to interfere in naval strategy. hfy time in France has taught me that it is better to leave the tactics and strategy to the professional soldier and sailor, and I intend to do so. But it is my duty to know what the Sea Lords are proposing to do to get through the material and resources at their disposal, to form an independent opinion as to whether they have enough or should have more, and in every possible way, as far as x civilian can, help them in their work.” On August 6th it was officially announced that Vice-Admiral Sir Rosslyn E. Wemyss had been selected to be Second Sea Lord, in succession to Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, who would be employed on special duty; and that hlr. Alan Garrett Anderson (late Vice-chairman of the Wheat Commission) had been appointed Controller in the vacancy created by the appointment of Sir Eric of \ Downloaded by [Carnegie Mellon University] at 08:15 14 January 2015 Geddes as First Lord the -4dmiralty. The official announcement continued:- “ On the -appointment of Vice-Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wicrnyss, the opportunity will be taken to rearrange the duties of the Second Sea Lord, who will be relieved of detailed administrative work connected with the personnel of the fleet. It is also announced that hfr. R. F. Dunnell (secretary and soiicitcr of the North-Eastern Railway) has, with the approval of the directors of the North-Eastern R ai‘1 way, accepted the appointment of Temporary and Additional Assistant Secrctary of the Admiralty. It is further announccd that Sir W. Graham Greene, K.C.B., has been invited by the Minister of Munitions to undertake the duties of Secre- tary of the Ministry. Sir Graham Grccne, vdh thc Prime AIinister’s approvai, has accepted this invitation. and has vacated the office of Permanent Secretary of thc Admiralty. An announcement as to his successor will br: nlnde later. In the meantime Sir Oswyn Murray, K.C.B., will act as Secretary.” I2 SzG TIiE WAR : ITS SX\‘AL SIDE On September IIth, 18x7, the Patent for the New Board of Admiralty, pub- lished in the Lotzdo~r Garctte, shovicd that the Board consisted of ten members, viz., Sir Eric Geddes, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Vice-Admiral Sir Rosslyn \Vemyss, Rear-Admiral Lionel Halsey, Kcar-Admiral 11. H. D. Tothill, Commodore Godfrey Paine, Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Oliver, Rear-Admiral A. L. Duff, the Right €Ion. E. G. Pretyman, and Sir Alan G. Anderson. On September 6th Sir Oswyn hfurray, it nas officially announced, had been appointed Permanent Secretary of the Admiralty, in succession to Sir W. Graham Greene, who had become Secretary of the Ministry of Munitions. Mr. Charles U‘alker, C.B., thc official statement continued, had been appointed Assistant Secretary of the Admiralty, in succession to Sir Osmyn hIurray. Increased rates of pay to seamen and soldiers were announced on September joth, and published on the nest Jay. The changes were explained in a letter addressed by the Primc Minister to the Secretary- of State for War and the First Lord of the -Admiralty, dated from 10, Downing Street, on September 29th. The principles on which the War Cabinet decided to proceed are:- Increased pay in proportion to length of service, and relief of men with dependents of the assignment hitherto charged against them. The following is a summary of the Government’s dccision so far as it affects the Xaq- :- 1.-The State to take over a portion of the allotment not esceeding 3s. 6d. in the case of allotments amounting to 5s. or more per week, and in the case of smaller allotments to dependants other than wives. such les’ser sum as will leave the men chargeable with IS. 6d. per week. In the case of boys whose pay normally does not admit of an allotment in excess of 2s. per week, the State to take over IS. of the allotment. _.-3 -- >d. a day extra to able seamen after three years (at present after six years), with corrcsponding increase in afloat alloivance to marines. 3.--Blessing allowance at 7d. (at present 5ld.). 4.-Hospital stoppages to be abolished except where a man is rcsponsiblc for the complaint for which he is being trezted. 5.-Free,kit (now free kit on entry). &-Pension to be paid to men who hare completed time for pension and are detaincd under Proclamation ; the same to be retrospective as from the beginning of the war, minus in each case the value of the detained pay already received. 7.--Improvcd pensiqn for twenty-two years’ service. Mr. Lloyd George, in his letter, further stated that “the question of pay and allowances to the junior ranks of comrcissioned officers requires attention. Their leading and example throughout the wa~,and the immense proportion of loss that has fallen upon them, give them an inestimable claim upon the regard of their country, and the confidence and admiration of their men. The measures Downloaded by [Carnegie Mellon University] at 08:15 14 January 2015 of the Government to deal adequately with the special difficulties of their position will be announced shortly.” On July 12th the Secretary of the Admiralty announced that the private allox-iance payable by parents on behalf of acting sub-lieutenants, midshipmen. and assistant clerks, had been waived as from July 1st for the remaininz period of the war. During the period under review, several statenicnts were made on authority in connection with the submarine campaign. On August rGth the Prime hlinistcr, in thc House of Commons, announced that the Governlnent had come to the conclusion that with reasonable economy there as no chance of starving ogt the population of these islands. He said, with regard to the destruction of THE IV.\R : ITS SAVAL SIDE Sz 7 tonnage, that when the unrestricted subioarini campsign began in February, there was an enormous advrrntagc to the assailant in being able to hit at any ship without having to ask any questions as to the flag she was under, or as to the cargo she carried.