Two Hilts, One Point

From the old fort above Portsmouth dockyard a gun boomed out last week, and the Union Jack broke from the halyards of Admiral Nelson's famed old wooden flagship, the Victory. In the courtyard before the barracks honor guards of bluejackets and Royal Marines snapped to present arms as nine high officers, walking stiffly in the epaulets and cocked hats of their full dress uniforms, entered the building to hold an exciting court martial.

Last January a British battle squadron was plowing in double column in maneuvers off the coast of Spain. On the yardarm of the flagship, the enormous battle cruiser Hood, appeared a flag signal for the squadron to form single line of battle. H. M. S. Renown, leading the second column, swung sharply inward. The Hood continued stubbornly on her course. Amid warning siren hoots, the two ships crashed together. No one was injured but Renown limped to Gibraltar for temporary repairs. The heavier Hood suffered $40,000 damages. Who was to blame?

It is a tradition aboard battleships in the British Navy, as old as wearing white kid gloves and a frock coat on watch and drinking the King's health in port, that Admirals are almost never guilty. Since 1687 only eight British Admirals have been haled before courts martial, and only three of them found guilty.* The collision between Hood and Renown risked the lives of nearly 3,000 men, $50,000,000 worth of British taxpayers' money. Last week not only the two ships' commanders, Captain Francis T. B. Tower of the Hood and Captain Henry Richard Sawbridge of the Renown, but also the commander of the Squadron, Rear Admiral Sidney Robert Bailey, C. B., C. B. E., D. S. O., were called before the court martial.

As far as the immediate operation of his own flagship is concerned, an Admiral is little more than a passenger. The Hood's behavior was none of Admiral Bailey's business. The sole questions were: 1) Had he given proper and sufficient signals for the maneuver? 2) Was there sufficient space for the ships to maneuver in safety? Admiral Bailey's defender in court (known officially as "the Prisoner's Friend") was his immediate predecessor in command of the Battle Cruiser Squadron, Vice Admiral William Milburne James, grandson of the late great painter Sir John Everett Millais and known to all the British Navy as "Bubbles."

"Bubbles" James had little to do. Stiffly at attention Rear Admiral Bailey laid his sword on the President's desk and crisply conducted his own defense. Amusing highlight in the court martial was a small midshipman, pink with embarrassment at testifying before so much gold lace. According to this humble snotty's stopwatch the Renown had been given plenty of time to change her course safely.

"My signal for the maneuvers was straightforward," cried Prisoner Rear Admiral Bailey. "The Renown made a bad shot at it. I have been her commander and 1 know she is a handy ship."

As the court began to deliberate. Rear Admiral Bailey marched from the room. Just for a second he glanced at the sword he left behind. When he came back he would know instantly if he were innocent or guilty depending on whether his sword's hilt or its point was toward him. The court martial followed tradition. When Rear Admiral Bailey returned, the hilt lay toward him, meaning acquittal.

"I give you this with pleasure," said the President, Vice Admiral Edward Astley Astley-Rushton. handing the sword back to guiltless Rear Admiral Bailey.

Things went harder with the Renown's commander, Captain Sawbridge. When he returned to the courtroom his sword point lay toward him. "Do you wish to make any statement seeking to mitigate punishment?" asked the Court.

"No," said guilty Captain Sawbridge. He was then retired from the Navy, on half pay. Next day the long line of' gold cuffs and epaulets proceeded to try Captain Tower. Though the Hood under Captain Tower had apparently made no move to avoid the collision. Captain Tower's sword came back to him hilt first.

*Only one, Admiral John Byng, was ordered shot in 1757.

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