Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-30

Paris. Oct. 3O.-Not long before
tie war began, there appeared in the
Revue de Paris a remarkable article
on the German navy by a Lieutenant
Of the French navy. whose name is
not disclosed. The article. which is
a criticism. is notable because of the
broad spirit OF fairness that pervades
il, particularly that part where the
French writer gives his impressions
and opinions of Admiral Won Tirpitz.
commander in chief OF the German
high sea fleet. No German could have
paid a higher tribute to the admiral
than that of the French officer.
Under the direction OF the emper-
or" the French officer writes, the
one man of all others most qualified
to triumph with the kaiser's ideas is
his minister of marine, Admiral Won
Tirpitz. Won Tirpitz has as strong
a personality as that of the great Prus-
sian himself. When William called
Won Tirpitz to the ministry of marine
in 1897 he was rear admiral, and was
As years old, tle youngest officer of
his rank IN the Germany navy. He
had up to that time travelled little.
most of his career having been spent
in Prussia and Bavaria, but he had
known rare qualities or organization
and a profound knowledge of techni-
cal problems relative to the navy.
In a shor time Won Tirpitz had
gained an influence over the reich
stag that has grown stronger and
stronger during the ensuing Il years
IL -
worker and I profound scholar, a man
who can be calculated upon 10 over
come great odds in arriving at his
end, and man who believes absolute
J. in the German navy.
ITO win public opinion Won Tirp.tz
organized the German Navy leagCe. !
that powerful organization of a semi !
official character which has more than !
a million members. and which con-
stantly breaches the strong navy
propaganda. Won Tirpitz created en-
tirely outside OF the ministry of M
rine a press bureau which has as
object the maintenance of public IA !
vor and zeal for the navy. The arti- !
cles given out by mis- bureau are pub |
lished simultaneously in every Ger
man newspaper Of every political
party.
But adroit politician and unerring !
tactician that he is, Won Tirpitz is |
stu more remarkable for his general |
knowledge and methodical mind. !
Thanks to him the development of the /!
German navy was not made in undue !
haste. but according to a regular and |
perfect progression. Not a single ele- |
ment was sacrificed for another under
the excuse of urgency. The compost
ton OF the naval units, the depth OF
drydocks. the great arsenals. the re
cruiting of the marines, have all fol-
lowed a general, logical and vigorous
rule.
1T is because of all this that Ad-
miral Won Tirpitz is a great minister
Of marine and deserves to be com
pared with our great Colbert. HeI
knows better. however, than to over
step his authority. He received I'm
1911 the title of admiral in chief OF
the fleet. but he is only the head OF
he naval administration. for the
question OF utilization of the navy is
for the major admiral in
;hief. the kaiser. who also passes on
al promotions OF officers and all 4
changes, however small.
This division OF command, CON
rol. power. authority. Is possible only
inder autocratic rule. II shocks us.
md we are led to think that only i'll !
ould follow such a rule. But the
trong unity between the kaiser and &
admiral Won Tirpitz. and the perma-
.ency OF Won Tirpitz's position have ]
reated a result that is far better than |
hat obtained in our own ever chang 5
1g ministry.