out.

Now they have written to Premier Jennifer Smith and Governor Thorold Masefield outlining their complaints against the regime at Warwick Camp.

And it is understood one of the conditions of a ceasefire is that British Army staff officer Major David Napier be drummed out.

Regiment rebels claim black officers have been left feeling out of step with the direction the Island's armed service is taking.

One said: "As I understand it, the root of a number of the problems is the staff officer, Maj. Napier.

"He is advising the CO and he is advising him badly -- to the exlusion of Bermudians.'' Another added: "There is a significant gulf widening in the Officers' Mess between black and white officers and the Officers' Mess and the Sergeants' Mess because of it.'' And they added that the Regiment's annual boot camp suffered because of a lack of direction and resentment among senior ranks.

But yesterday Lt. Col. Outerbridge defended his command style.

He said: "I have heard some concerns -- but I haven't seen any letters.'' He added: "I've made some changes in Recruit Camp which caused some disquiet.'' But he said: "My door is always open to anyone in the Regiment. If they have a problem they can come and see me -- come forward and speak to me.'' Regiment officers issue complaint And he denied there was racial tension in the Regiment's command structure.

He added: "If you talk to the black officers, we have several new officer cadets who have started training and are looking to go to Sandhurst -- five out of the seven are black.'' And other Regiment figures lined up behind their CO -- one said there had "always been confrontation'' between some Bermudians and overseas instructors.

And he claimed attempts to modernise the Regiment's training structure -- with a bigger emphasis on problem-solving and less on square-bashing -- had been met with stiff resistance from some officers and NCOs.

Premier Jennifer Smith was yesterday off the Island and unavailable for comment.

And Deputy Governor Tim Gurney steered clear of a potential minefield by declining to comment on specific allegations.

But he said: "There are obviously frequent discussions with the Regiment at all sorts of levels and within the Defence Board.

"Inevitably, in any organisation, there are matters of disagreement and we always work hard to resolve these.'' The Royal Gazette understands trouble with Maj. Napier -- on detachment from the Anglian Regiment for just over a year -- started when he launched a campaign to bring in a British Army Regimental Sergeant Major.

That move was blocked by Bermudian officers.