Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-04
.F|SKE DECLARES NAVY
IS UNPREPARED FOR WAR
Speaks OF It's Needs and Necessity of
Making American People
Realize Them.
HAS NO FEAR OF DIsrLEAsuRE
Destructive Criticism, He Says. Mt
Dinner to Alumni of Annapolis, He
Homes Will BE of Constructive
Value

miral Fiskc. who attracted widespread
Naval Committee on the lack Of ade-
quate naval equipment, and who later
retired from the ofFicc of aide for oper-
atoms in tho Navy Department, spoke
at length on the unnreparedness OF the
fleet here tonight at the Naval Acad-
envy alumni dinner.
Admiral Fiskc spoke Of the needs of
the navy and the necessity OF making
laymen realize them.
IF we fear 10 do this lest We incur
displeasurc and spoil our individual
careers, we are unworthy Of the uni
form We wear. and we fail our coun-
try In her hour Of need, just as cffcc-
tually as if we deserted her flag In
war.
with the example of the navy of
the past To guide us, let us go where
that example beckons; seeing, with
whatever clcarncss God may grant us.
the thing we ought to do; holding
honor. patriotism and duty before US
ms the shining stars of our endeavor:
loyal to the cause we live for, faithful
to our trust, interrupted by lure of place
or power; 10 the end that we may
worth!ly carry our flag upon the sea
and securely guard our shores.
IAN attack by one OF the great naval
powers is the only kind we consider.
The attacking force would he as great
MS the alta cking power could spare.
in order to insure its success and mini
inize its losses This means that IL
would include battle cruisers, Dread
thoughts. reDreHdnoughts. scouts.
cruisers, destroycrs, submarines. mine
depot ships mine layers, mine sweep
ers, a!rships and aeroplanes. all fully
manned and all strateEically directed
by a general stan.
ENLISTED PERSONNEL.
ALSO INSUFFICIENT
What have we with which to oppose
these forces--a smaller number OF
Dreadnoughts. rc-Drcadnouchts and
tiestroyers than the enemy would bring ::
TO battle cruisers, no effective scouts.
one airship recently contracted for,
only three good aeroplancS. not yet
ready. an embryonic aeronautical ser
vice: two mine depot ships. one mine
layer and twelve mine swecpcrs, also
about forty-fvc submarines OF all kinds
and ages, distributed over the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts, Panama, Hawaii and
the Philippines, none IF which have
ever attempted feats like those so et-
fectively performed in foreign nRvies
now, and an inadequate merchant ma :
rine, from which TO get auXiliarcS. 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
stan, or similar agency to direct the
whole.
This means that the navy must OBJ
tain several types OF vessels and in
s;ruments that We do not now possess
Cor possess In only insufficient meas
urcl; must learn TO use them, both as
units and as members OF one great
unit with Skill a. least equal with that
OF foreign navics. must enlist and eff
ciently train as large force OF en-
listed men. active and reserve as our
probable enemy would send; and mus,
develop a general staff or some similar
agency As skillfui and experienced as
theirs.
We have seen the battle cruiser, the
scout, tho submarine the airship, the
aeroplanc and the'h5!L ne ht.ins developed
by foreign nations into. effective instru-
inents OF war. while their officers and
men have been efficiently trained in
their use and tactics; but we have not
developed them into effective instru-
rncnts Of war ourselves, and therefore
our officers and men have not been eff :
GENTLY trained in their use and tactics.
we have observed the formation OF
reserves, hut have gotten none our
selves worthy Of the name
TEATs OF COMPETITORS
GREATER THAN OURS
we have admningly noted the won.
derful work az tho general STATS, but
have provided no general staff or SINH
lar agency ourselves, though the re
cent creation OF the office OF chief OF
naval operations Is q step in that di-
rection. we have no tested war plans
nor tested mobilization scheme As u
gunnery. the news that keeps COMING
in of achievements in long range firing
by European ships shows us that. while
we are good in guunery as We have ever
been. our competitors have accom-.
Dlished teats greater than any we have
ever attempted
may say True; hu, has dcstruct!v.
criticism no constructive value? Yes
because unit! destructive criticism
points out faults construc,ivcness vii
not he used ana remedies viii not Ia
applied. During the lahorious hours o
preparation no criticism can be to,
keen. no searching out Of faults to,
stern, no acknowledgment Of dcnci
encies too frank when the time 70
action comes a buoyant optimism viii
stimulate courage and spur cxcrtion
but until that time arrives optimism
and dissatisfaction work in the in
terests Of the enemy.
Although the countrys sentiment i
behind the country's navy, vet tina
navy Itself Is not 4 matter or sentiment
but matter OF fact Have we or hav
we not a navy Of such com position. or
ganization size and skill that 1t coul,
successfully resist-a probable enemy il
war?
IF no is the answer. then the rea
son and the money OF a hundred mil
lion people must work upon the nav,