The Director of Naval Intelligence is described as having exercised broad operational staff responsibilities under the older Admiralty structure. Much of the work outside the Third Sea Lord's sphere passed through that office. Bethell would therefore have experience translating the naval leadership's wishes into operations across the service. That background supports the expectation that he could act independently of Beatty when a signal appeared mistaken. Horace Hood is considered unavailable at this point because he was engaged elsewhere.
Notable Point · 1:37:23-1:38:24
Why a former intelligence director could challenge Beatty
Bethell's institutional experience supplies the reasoning behind his imagined independence at Dogger Bank.