MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Her Majesty's Government will re-consider the present system of appointing Flag Captains in the Navy, the result whereof often is that the Captain of the flagship, the most important battleship in a fleet, is a junior Captain many years junior to every other Captain of a battleship in the same fleet, and consequently not of the seniority or experience usually required for the command of such a ship; and whether they will consider the propriety of making such regulations as will secure that the Captains of flagships shall henceforth be appointed under the same conditions of seniority, standing, and experience as are required for the command of other ships of similar class, and will provide that the Admiral in command of a fleet shall, if necessary, have the services of a Captain of the Fleet, who shall not be responsible for the command of the flagship, but shall act as Chief of the Staff to the Admiral, and accompany him to any ship on which he may hoist his flag?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe Admiralty are quite alive to the importance of the subject in question, and, while they agree that it is undesirable for the Flag Captain of a large fleet to be junior of that rank, they do not think it necessary to tie their own hands by laying down any positive Rules on the subject, but consider that it can be met by careful administration. It has been customary, under certain circumstances, to appoint a Captain of the Fleet, and the power of doing so will be exercised as heretofore when it is considered necessary.