Under the regulations the Navy cannot speak for itself. But
we all know only too well what happens when those who can and do speak for themselves address demands to the Government. The Government instantly yield. The Prime Minister perhaps exclaims : " Why was I not told before " Surely it is not credit- able that those who deserve best but are required to be dumb should come off worst. Let the Prime Minister be told about it. The Government should say to any section of the people who demand more money from the State : " We admit that you deserve more. Few men have better earned it. But at all events there are some men who deserve not only more but much, more than you at the hands of their country. They are the officers and men of the Royal Navy. Whatever you get, they must also have their share. They must never be forgotten. They are the men who saved the Allies and ultimately won the war. But for them you would have earned nothing." Unhappily the scale of Naval pay is substantially that which was arranged in the time of Nelson. Rather than see. the Navy starved for pay, the nation would wish to have the whole of the Admiralty droits handed over to the officers and men. We are sure that people would gladly forfeit the money knowing that it was bestowed so well.
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