Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-11-04
ADMIRAL JELuCOE
IS ENGLAND'S IDOL
Supreme Commander of British
Fleet Has Been Tried and
Proved, People Think.

London, (by mail).-Of all the great
leaders OF the val, Sir John Jellicoe
commanding the British grand fleet, is
least Known to the world, and his is the
portrait Which receives the most cheers
When 1t Is thrown onto a screen at a
Lonuon theater. But the British pub
Tic knows nothing Of him except that
ne Is the fighting commander of the
invisible" power of the British navy
When wal was threatening it is re-
lated that a meeting of admiralty lords
and others who would have the say
was held to decide who. in ase of
nostllltles. Mould command the British
fleet. The opinions ran something like
this, 1T Is said:
"Jellicoe! He has the brains"
"Jellicoe! He is young. He has the
health to endure the strain. He has the
nerve"
"Jellicoe! He has been tried in every
branch of the service"
"Jellicoe! His fellow officers believe
In him."
He Has Made Good.
IL was that sort of recommendation
that helped. When the great war came
ne was given supreme command and
the rest left to him.
IRON the time he was a midship-
man, Jellicoe has been a marked man
IN the service" SAID one Of his ad-
m1rals. III is one of those men who
seems to be born with ~tireless energy.
NO matter what difficulties arise, he
Is always smiling. Both he and Beatty
were in the first attempt to relieve the
Picking legations at the time of the
Boxe rebellion. Captain Jellicoe was
then Admiral Seymour's chief of staff.
When he was wounded and the little
Dand OF seamen were surrounded by
Boxers n it looked as if every minute
might be their last, he was smiling as
nhanrI1v oC if hn 1oI 1anr on tho
quarter deck. Nothing ever seems to
ruffle his equanimity. His personal
charm would win him his way any
where; but when you have served with
him, then you realize what a master of
his profession he is"
Only the commander-in~chief's flag
which she flies distinguishes the flag
ship, which Is in the center of the fleet,
from the rest of the gray fighters in
their precise lines at anchor in har-
Dor. Sir John takes his exercise and
his holidays pacing the quarter deck.
He never leaves the fleet ever foI a
few hours. The commander-in-chief is
the one man who must take no risk
of being absent if the German fleet
should come out.
Not tall, spare, mis- face tanred by
the breezes, he walks up and Town the
deck. sometimes with one of his aides
or with his chief of staff, again with
SAAS vi AAAo La VA ~ SRiS
fleet is familiar with the quick, light
step of that slight figure with a tele-
scope always under his arm. If a ship
Lhould come to anchor with a bow out
of line, he knows it. All mis- fighting
ships are under his eye M every hui
man being on the fleet feels his per-
sonal presence.
No Sian of Detail.
Descend a ladder under the shadow of
two great 13.5-inch guns and the wish
tor is in a large cabin extending from
side to side Of the ship. which in a
house would be called a dining room.
Here when he was in port in time of
peace the commander-in-chief would
give his official dinners. In time of war
the cabin is partly screened off, as there
is more room than Sir John and his
staff need for meals. Aft of this is
what would be called in a house the
sitting room. The furnishings are of
the simplest. Everything inflammable
could be removed promptly in case of
action. The few names in the visitors
book on a table were suggestive of the
fleets isolation from intercourse with
the rest of the world. One name was
the kings and another the Prince of
Wales. and a few high officials.
The visitor looked about in vain for
signs OF the immense amount Of official
detail which would seem necessary for
the focal point of a vast campaign.
Some staff officers and a few records
were all. The flagship is kept cleared
for action in this as in all other re-
spects. The actual direction of the
5000 ships and auxiliaries of the
British navy is carried on in a
space occupied in a New York office by
a lawyer and two or three clerks. An
orderly went and came with messages
from the wireless room. which, aside
from the installations, had space
enough for the wireless operators to
stand and no more.
Officers said that It was difficult to
contemplate how such a naval cam
paign as the British in this war could
have ever been conducted without the
wireless. Sir John could talk with the
admiralty in London or with any ship,
whether off Heligoland or Iceland. He
knew what each man was doing. Let
q German cruiser show her nose IN
the North Sea and he had the news in
q minute or two after she was sighted.
"He makes it all seem simple and
easy" said one Of the admirsls. THAT
Is his gift--it is the essential gift for
one who has such a great responsible
ity."
Beatty, who sank the Butcher. is the
youngest of Sir Johns young admirals,
a. years Of age, boyish and quick.
Sturdee, victor Of the Falkland islands
battle, smooth shaver, as smiling as
Sir John is quick spoken. and rather
studious in appearances; he is an ex-
pert in naval strategy.
Must Work Way Up.
In the British navy promotion is by
selection up to the grade of captain.
A man with q single flaw in his record
as lieutenant must wait on others be-
fore he can become lieutenant COM
mander. Those with perfect records in.
each grade are canvassed by boards
and those who have shown industry
and initiative are chosen to go over
the heads of less active men. The aim
is to apply the system Of civil life,
where ability rises and mediocrity
must be content with the lower rungs
Of the ladder.
J%ellicose, Sturdee and Beatty entered
the navy as boys Of IA. None had any
particular influence; they made their
way by industry. Sir John has
served in every branch. He is regarded
as possibly the ablest ordnance exper
in the nav which means that he
knows the guns which he will fire in
action.
Notwithstanding his amiability. all.
agree that he has only one criterion.
success. II an officer fails he is super
seeded. Most Of these young admirals
sleep on the bridge even In harbor. For