Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-07

AS one OF his fellow officers has re-
marked, England's unknown Nelson has
risen by dint OF sheer brain power.
continuity of purpose, clear-sightedness
and conspicuous ability to the position he
now holds" The son Of an obscure man,
he has attained the highest rank In the
service, where aristocratic influence counts
for much.
After he retired from the command OF
England's most important fleet, the Medi-
terranean, he became senior naval lord
of the admiralty. AS such, he is COM
mander-in-chie of the British Navy
Issuing the omman to the admirals of
all the fleets. If war broke out, he would
probably take command OF the Channel
squadron, if time permitted. In any case,
the responsibility for planning and direct
Ing the campaign would rest with him.
He is necessarily preparing for 1t, whether
the political horizon looks dark or clear.
The Won Moltke of the British navy, his
ships will be found as ready for war when
the storm breaks as the German generals
soldiers were in 1870. Fishers influence
pervades every part of the navy, down to
the loneliest little gunboat on a remote
tropical station. The force of his will is
the lifeblood which circulates through every
vein and artery of the great organism he
commands. He sits in his office in London
and knows, without needing to refer to
documents or cablegrams, exactly where
every ship Of his navy is today, and where
1t will be tomorrow. He knows whether
the commander is a good officer, whether
ne drinks, whether he is a fop, whether
he is liked by his crew-in fact, everything
about him. 1t is the same with the ships.
He knows all of them, from truck to keel
son down to the last little leak in the
latest water tube boiler.
''Confound him!" said an officer, who
served under him in the West Indies, IT
believe he could tell you the exact number
of cocktails I drink every time 1 go ashore"
To this encyclopaedia knowledge is Joined
the faculty of prompt action and utter
fearlessness. He proved his courage over
and over again in the Crimean war, the
China war of 1880, and the bombardment
of Alexandria. His will is iron," said
one of his Mediterranean officers, "and his
nerves are Harveyized Krupp steel"
Several years ago he was at Lisbon
with a squadron. Relations were strained
between Germany and England. Just be-
fore the TTc,ish ships left, q German fleet
of twice the strength entered the harbor.
with the idea of impressing the Portu-
guese, and dew up in double line off the
It Slltl cACldHSSu SdlulSS' onu lllCh
led his vessels out of the harbor at full
speed between the two German lines, with
only twenty or thirty yards clear on either
side. 1t was a maneuver that might have
wrecked a dozen ships, and only a man OF
iron nerve could have carried it out sue
cessfully. But he had trained his squadron
well. Not a single vessel swerved a yard
from the wake of his flagship. Amazed
at his daring, the Germans cheered madly
as he passed by their ships
Sir John Fisher is one of the hardest
working men in King Edwards service
Here is an account of one of his typical
days at sea, as mapped out by his flag lieu
tenant:
s a. m.-Rises. Writes hard until 7 a. m.
Then walks around the ship.
s a. m.-Breakfasts with chief of tho
tary and guests; the latter usually includ-
ing a couple of midshipmen, to whom the
meal is an awful ordeal.
8 a. work, including much cor
respondence with the admiralty. ambassa-
doris. consuls, governors of colonies and au-
thorities of foreign countries.
10 a. m. 10 l T. m.-Dlrects fleet ma
neuvers.
/ p. m.-Luncheon.
2 p. m.-More maneuvers, lasting through
the afternoon.
5 n. m.-More correspondence.
1880 p. m.-Dinner.
. to 10 p. Minor correspondence, then
bed.
Ashore, Sir John Fisher works harder. II
that be possible. He has no pleasures, ex-
cept an occasional dance. His entire life is
devoted to keeping the British Navy in per-
feet readiness to fight an enemy In any
part Of the world at a moments notice.