The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-04
Rear Admiral Fiske Says We
Are Wholly Unprepared.
Fighting Machines of Europe
Dwarf That of America.
AT MERCY OF HOSTILE FORCE
Critic Says Nation Has Been
Outstripped in Equipment.
Declares 1t DislOyal Not to Ad-
wise Layman of Needs.

Annapolis, Md, June 4.-Rear Ad-
mira1 FiSke, who attracted widespread
attention by his statements to the
house naval committee on the task
of adequate naval equipment, and who
later retired from the office of aide
for operations in the navy department,
spoke at length on the unpreparedness
of the fleet, here last night, at the
naval academy alumni dinner.
Let us estimate the situation brief
w. he said. Evidently an attack by
one of the great naval powers is the
only kind that would be made. Clear
ly the attacking force would be as
great as the attacking power could
spare, in order to insure its success
and minimize it's losses. This means
that the attacking force would include
battle cruisers, dreadnoughts, pre-
dreadnough-s, scouts, cruisers, de-
strOyers, submarines, mine depot ships,
mine layers, mine SWeeperS, a1rsh1pS
and aeroplaneS, all fully manned and
all strategically directed by a general
staff.
And What Have We?
What have we with which to op-
pose this force? A smaller number of
dreadnoughts, pre-dreadnoughts and
destroyers than the enemy would
bring; nc battle cruisers, no effective
scouts, one airship recently contracted
for, only three good aerOplanes, not
yet ready, an embryonic aeronautical
service; two mine depot ships, one
mine layer and twelve mine SweeperS;
also about 5 submarines of all kinds
and ages distributed over the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts, Panama, Hawaii
and the Philippines, none of which
have ever attempted feats like those
so effectively performed in foreign
navies now, and an inadequate mer-
chant marine from which to get aux
iliaries. To man even this insufficient
material we have an enlisted personnel
insufficient even for that. even in time
of peace. and no trained reserve and
no general staff: or similar agency, to
direct the whole.
Must Strengthen Fleet.
'"This means that, reasoning on the
assumption that the United States de-
sires that the navy shall be able to
guard our coast effectively against the
only kind of attack that would be
made, the navy must obtain several
types of vessels and instruments that
we do not now possess Cor possess
only in insufficient measure); must
learn to use them, both as units and
as members of one great unit, with a
skill equal at least to that with which
foreign navies already use them. must
enlist and efficiently train as large a
force of enlisted men, active and re-
serve, as our probable enemy would
send; and must develop a general staff
or some similar agency as ski11ful and
experienced as theirs.
Laymen Must Know 1t.
I'VE, as naval officers, realize all
this; but this will accomplish nothing
unless we make the laymen realize it.
too. If we fear to do this, lest we in
cur displeaSure and spoil our individ-
ual careers, we are unworthy of the
uniform we wear and we fail our
country in her hour of need, just as
effectually as if we deserted her flag
in war.
I'VE must make the 1aymen realize
that the naval perfection has develop
ed greatly within the last ten years in
the awful war for which her navieS
strenuously prepared; while, we of the
United States, feeling secure behind
the bulwark of the ocean, have not
seriously prepared, and have, there
fore, dropped behind in the march of
naval progress and have been, in fact,
outstripped."