Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-07


but this feeling is declared on good
authority to pervade a large share of
the naval service and to be felt deep
ly by the ablest, keenest and most
farseeing officers Of the fleets and
naval bureaus.
Whole Navy Destroyed.
Surface reasons only are given Off
cially for the request Of Admiral Fiske
to be relieved. But those who are in
close touch with actual conditions are
not so slow to give their views. It is
well-known that for months many
naval officers have felt intensely the
belief that the American navy has
fallen ON unfortunate days and, while
the navies Of other leading navies of
the world are forging ahead at a
wonderful rate, the navy Of the
United States is barely holding its
own if not actually retrograding.
Fate Of I'd Cited.
As is to emphasize the feeling of able
officers Of the navy, there has oc-
CURED lately the unfortunate affair of
Honolulu harbor. in which the ILL
fated submarine. the F-4. has gone to
the bottom with her officers and crew
and the recovery either Of vessel or
of the bodies Of the dead is not yet a
certainty. Meantime. it is talked that
the submarine was not in fit shape for
submerged runs and that the condition
of the F4 merely reflected the utterly
unprepared condition Of the submarine
fiotilias in the Atlantic and Pacific.
The situation Is not unlike that
which arose In the second administers
ton Of Roosevelt, when there was a
~ writ tot ms "a
navy. Able and accomplished officers
who saw the navy's faults and did not
hesitate to expose them, found them
selves punished for their pains sooner
or later by being removed from berths
in Washington and sent to sea, where
they could make no audible complaints.
The situation then, however, was un-
like the present one in that there was
at that time no great world war and
talk was common the world would
never see another war; Now, the lead
ing nations Of Europe are plunged into
conflict and while they are pushing
their naval ornaments with feverish
energy, the United States is doing
little out Of the ordinary. though it is
well understood that it will require
care on our part to steer clear Of
European complications.
Daniels Paeifieist.
Secretary Daniels. like Secretary
Bryan, is a pacificist. He has small
sympathy with the idea of this country
preparing for war on a scale common
surate with its interests. He thinks
the navy is efficient. He is said to
have resented criticisms of the eff
ficency Of the navy by Admiral F,iske
and others. It is a significant fact that
Admiral Fletcher, in command Of the
Atlantic fleet. who went before the
house committee on naval affairs and
gave out the idea the fleet was in a fine
state Of preparation. was the first man
to be made admiral under the new
law.
On the other hand, Admiral Ffske, or
more accurately. Rear Admiral Fiske,
has insisted the navy was unprepared,
has emphasized its defects, has urged
a liberal building program, and has re-
Elected the views in this respect of the
great bulk of navy officers. He wanted
fighting efficiency made the paramount
objective of the whole naval service.
He did not hesitate to tell the house
naval committee the navy was unfit for
war, that there was no coordination Of
effort and that the American people
ought to know the facts. He amazed
the naval committee, when asked
whose business It was to prepare war
plans and see the feet got practice in
them. by saying: Tt is nobody's bus
mess"
Friction For Months.
& His attitude did not please Secretary
Daniels, and for months there has been
friction. Seeking to advise Secretary
All ifov ct n - x,,1
matters he found his advice ignored.
Shortage OF men, defetcs of organiza-
tion and the like were not CLOSED over
q by him and he found the truth as he
saw. It unpalatable to those higher
up"
Naval men know Fiske as one Of the
sablest and most accomplished officers
In the service. A studious and quiet
looking man, he is fighter and his
idea Of navy Is navy that can fight
and win battles.
The retirement of Ffske has stirred
q great sensation in naval circles.
Coming on the heels of the Honolulu
disaster, 1t is likely to attract the at
tention Of congress.
Ono OF the defects Of the navy in re-
cent months has been the lack Of ade-
quate attention to target practice on
the battleshtps. This has caused se-
we're criticism. The sad condition Of
submarine preparedness was brought
out before the house naval committee
by Commander Yates Stirling who
said In substance only two of the At.
ssantic submarine 1otilla were fit for
services.
panisls plans Show.
Now secretary Daniels has given orr