Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-06-17
He is never happier than when he has

Stern toward men, he Is pleasant to
women. He never goes into port, If ne
can help it, without giving ball on
his flagship. He was a great favorite
with Queen Victoria, and was deeply
attached to her.
When the French Admiral Gervais
visited Portsmouth some years ago
with his fleet, Fisher was told off by
the admiralty to do the Eonors to him
The queen called him to Osborne and
said:
"Sir John, we have sent for you es-
pecially to ask you to be very nice to
Admiral Gervais, as he was 80 kind to
us when we were recently at Cimiez.'
Madam said Jacky gallantly, 81
will even kiss him, If your majesty
wishes it."
Sir John Fisher is honored by his
political superiors and the permanent
heads Of the admiralty because he is
the one man in the British navy who
always holds his tongue. In career
of over forty years he has never spok-
en- or written a word for publication;
he has never been guilty Of the slight
est indiscretion. In these days Of gar
rulous generals and argumentatiye ad.
mirals that Is q record worth having.
This strong. silent man has a hor-
ror of notoriety. This trait In his char
acter made it impossible for him te
get along amicably with Lord Charles
Beresford when the latter was his sec.
ond in the Mediterranean a couple OF
years ago. Lord Charles Is a fine sail
or, but Fisher regarded him as a leaky
vessel, incurably fond Of talking wher
he ought to hold his tongue.
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 sor
Of an obscure man, he has attained the
highest rank in the service, where aris-
tocratic influence counts for much.
After he retired from the command
of England's most important fleet, the
Mediterranean, he became senior ma
val lord of the admiralty. AS such, he
is commander-in-ch chief Of the British
navy, issuing his commands to the
admirals of all the fleets.
If war broke out he would probably
take command Of the Channel squad
ron, If time permitted. In any case
the responsibility for planning and di-
recting the campaign would rest with
him. He is necessarily preparing fol
it, 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.
He sits in his office in London and
knows, without needing to refer tt
documents or cablegrams, exactly
where every ship Of his navy Is today
and where it will be tomorrow. He
knows whether the commander is
good officer, whether he drinks, wheth.
er he is a fop, whether he Is liked o!
his crew-in fact everything about
him.
"Confound him." said an officer, who
served under him in the West Indies
Il believe he could tell you the exact
number of cocktails drink every time
go ashore"
To this encyclopaedia knowledge Is
Joined the faculty Of prompt actor
and utter fearlessness. He proved his
courage over and over again in the
Crimean war, the China war Of 1896!
and the bombardment Of Alexandria.
His will is iron," said one Of his
Mediterranean officers. ."and his nerve:
are Harveyized Krupp Steel"
Several years ago he was at L.sbor
with a squadron. Relations We're very
much strained between Germany ano
England.
| Just before the English ships left, Z
German fleet Of twice the strength en-
tered the harbor, with the idea Of i'm
pressing the Portuguese, and drew ul
in double line off the town. Fisher
exchanged salutes and then led his YES
sells out of the harbor at full speed
between the two German lines, with
only twenty or thirty yards clear or
either side.
1t was a manoeuvre that might have
wrecked dozen ships, and only mar
of iron nerve could have carried it ou
successfully. But he had trained hi:
squadron we'll. Not a single vesse
swerved a yard from the wake Of hi:
flagship. Amazed at his daring the
Germans cheered as he passed by theil
ships.
Sir John Fisher is one Of the hard
est working men in King Edward!
service. Here Is an account Of one o.
his typical days at sea, as mapped ou
by his flag lieutenant:
a. m.-Rises. Writes hard until
a. m. Then walks around the ship.
a. m.-Breakfasts with chief Of the
staff, flag captain, flag lieutenant, Sec
retary and guests, the latter usually
including a couple of midshipmen, tt
whom the meal Is an awful ordeal.
| a. m-Office work, including mucf
correspondence with the admiralty
ambassadors, consuls, governors of col
onies and authorities of foreign coun'
tries.
10 a. m. to l p. m.-Directs fleet ma.
noeuvres.
p. m.-Luncheon.
p. m.-More manoeuvres, lasting
through the afternoon.
| n. m,-More correspondence.