Admiral Jervis pressed the report on the table and looked up at the head of the Navy Board investigation team:
"Are you sure this isn't a joke?"
After nearly ten days of thorough investigation, the Navy Board concluded that the accident on the "Avenger" was caused by—an officer in charge of logistics drunkenly loading seawater-soaked coal onto the ship, which led to the boilers shutting down. There was no serious technical problem with strhe warship.
Well, yesterday a poor little officer was already sent to a court-martial, probably facing 5 to 8 years. However, his wife's account at the Bank of England suddenly had a windfall of two thousand pounds. So he confessed cheerfully.
The head of the investigation team nodded guiltily, then glanced at the Navy Board's comptroller, Sir Middleton, who had handed him this very report.
England's Sea Battle Committee and Navy Board are two separate departments.
