Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-20
NAVAL OFF|CERSARE MAD.
American Navy Much Stirred by
The sIur Of Admiral RoIesIvensky.
NAVAL ATTAcHE QUICK TO DIFFER
Commodore Nebolsne of Russia, De-
cIares His Superior Is in no Position
to Make Such Assertlon-Prase
For the Fleet.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 10
Admiral Rojestvenskys statement
that tho American naval officers OH
The ships now on their way to the
Pacific were less competent as sen
fighters than the Japanese created 4
stir here today 1t read almost like
a challenge of efficiency and called
for quick reply by friends of the navy.
Commander Nebolsine. Naval Attache
OF the Russian Embassy, was one of
the first to differ from tho conclu-
sion drawn by the Russian admiral.
Admiral Rojestvensky is in no po-
sition to make any such assertion"
Commander Nebolsine said, "as he
has seen none of the late evidences
OF progress In the American navy and
can know little or nothing OF the
American naval officers fighting
worth"
Commander Nebolsine spent Thurs
DAY and Friday Mt Hampton Roads
with the fleet. He Is one of the ma
val experts who has taken great in
terest In all the details OF the cruise.
when the opportunity presented it.
SELF TO see the great fleet on the eve
OF its departure the Russian naval
attnche was one OF the first to take
advantage of 1t.
He visited several of the battle
| ships, introducing himself to Rear Ad-
mlral William H. Emory and Rear
ADMIRAL Sperry, who were delighted
to welcome him. Rear Admiral
Evans was also much pleased at the
visit of Commander Netolsine. who
was the first naval .nttache to offlcially
pay his respects
q Dlsasrees With Admiral.
| That Commander Nebolsino d,so-
grees with any statement reflectinp
On the efficiency of the United States
navy was evident from the first when
he talkd tonight.
| what he admires even moro
man the splendid machinery of the
nattieships and their general mako I'm
Is the navy spiri.' OF the men and
the devotion TO the service and gen
erai efficiency of the American ON
GERS. He characterized their devo-
.ion to the navy and to the country
rs Incompatible"
Not that the general enlclencv or
..u ships ala not call forth his admir-
uun, OF that he did not admire the
prompt and excellent manner In
|, P'o6itii loT the Crtlt5p had
oeeh carried out. but his chief inter
est centres around the officers of tho
ships who do the work to make them
eHective. The Russian naval attacbe
mas many friends in the navy and rel
marked on the emptiness which tho
ueparture of the feet makes in the
navy life" pf Washington.
When the fleet arrives NJ San
francisco / expect to be there to see
them. Commander Nebolsine soid
Admiral Rojestvensky's comparison
was also commented on in diplomats
circles and Mt the Navy Department
although naval officers gave 1t little
weight. Officers of the navy station
Cd there were not disposed to iooI, al
inc Russian admirals statement SCI
riously. One official of the depart-
ment sifid that thcrc could be no doubt
OF the ability of Admiral .Rojestyen-
SKY to compare the Japanese navy
with any other power. as the admiral
probably had the hest knowledge of
its lighting powers of any man out
side of that navy itself.
Some Spirited Replies.
Should it be found advisable for Of