§ In considering and settling the many subsidiary questions which arise in connection with the conversion of a peace establishment into one ready for war, the Intelligence Department has been most useful. The head of the Department has shown a remarkable aptitude for his work, and he has been well supported by the officers under him. The amount and nature of the information collated and distributed must necessarily be kept secret, but the work of the branch connected with the mobilization of the Fleet, and the utilization of Naval Reserves and resources, may roughly be sketched.
§ The main principle underlying the scheme has been to make each of the three great commands—Portsmouth, Devonport, and Sheerness—as far as possible self-supporting, by dividing the whole country into three districts, and sending all men from the same district to the same port. To arrange that, the various officers connected with the manning should man the ships under the superintendence of their respective Commanders-in-Chief, and to place these officers in direct communication with those in charge of the Reserves.
§ The men having been called out in the manner provided by law, each Commander-in-Chief becomes responsible for obtaining the men he requires for the ships in his port without reference to the Admiralty.
§ The complements for each ship have been drawn up, and a new classification of the ranks and ratings made, which Return will be issued quarterly.
§ These new arrangements have been tried experimentally at Portsmouth, and the Commander-in-Chief, in reporting the result, said—
§ "The officers of the various depôt ships have taken a great interest in carrying out the details of the scheme, and with a very satisfactory result. A signal was made at 1 p.m. on the 27th ult., and before 4 o'clock complete returns were rendered from each depôt ship of the appropriation of petty officers and men for all ships in and preparing for the First Class Steam Reserve, the torpedo boats, and armed merchant steamers. It will be observed that the crews are in each case practically complete, and there can be no doubt that a great advance has been made towards the speedy manning of the Fleet in case of sudden necessity."
§ "It must be remembered that in this instance the officers of the depôt ships have taken a strong personal interest in the scheme, being aware that it is novel and on its trial."
§ "So long as the executive officers will personally give the time and trouble necessary to work out the details, there will not be any difficulty with the present forms in manning all available ships in the course of 48 hours."
§ With the object of placing our Reserves of Officers on a satisfactory footing, the lists of retired officers have been carefully examined, and all eligible for employment have been asked if ready to serve in an emergency. Steps have also 926 927 been taken towards instituting a gunnery and torpedo course for retired officers, and for placing them, when called out for service, on the same footing as officers on the active list.
-
c927
- ARMED MERCANTILE CRUISERS. 30 words c927
- COALING AND SUPPLIES OF COAL. 130 words