The Washington times., 1915-04-03
.F|SKE'S RESIGNATION
FOLLOWED FRICTION
Rear Admiraps Action Throws
LimeIight on Remarkable
Naval Conditions.
Continued from First Page)

lSOIllllueu IIoIll L IL 81 o6S',
world are forging ahead at a wonderful
rate, the navy OF the United States is
barely holding its own, II not actually
retrograding.
As IL to emphasize the feeling Of able
officers of the navy. there has occurred
lately the unfortunate affair off Homo
lulu harbor, in which the Inflated sub
marine F-4 went to the bottom with her
officers and crew. and the recovery OF
either the vessel or the bodies or the
dead is not yet certainty.
Meantime. II Is talked that the sub
marine was not in fit shape for sub
merged runs. and that the condition OF
the F-4 merely reflected the utterly un-
prepared condition of the submarine fio-
tillas in the Atlantic and Pacific.
The situation Is not unlike that which
arose in the second adminiStration of
Roosevelt, when there was fierce out
burst Of criticism against the navy
Able and accomplished officers who saw
the navy's faults and did not hesitate to
expose them found themselves 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,s
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 thatithe world would
never see dIlOtfeT war. NOW. tIt lcau-
ing nations of Europe are plunged into
conflict, and while they are pushing
their naval armaments 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 the European
complications.
Secretary Daniels. like Secretary
Bryan. is a paciicist. lie has small
sympathy with the idea of this Coun-
try preparing for war on scale COM
mensurate with its interests. He thinks
the navy Is efficient He is said to have
resented criticisms of the efficiency of
the navy by Admiral Fiske and Others.
1t Is significant fact that Admiral
Fletcher. in command of the Atlantic
| fleet. who went before the House Com
mittee on Naval Affairs and gave ou.
! the idea tho fleet was i'm a fine state
I of preparation, was the first man TO b1
made admiral under the new law
On the other hand Admiral Fiske,
| or moro accurately Rear Admiral Fiskc,
has insisted the navy was unprepared.
has emphasized it's defects, has urged
liberal building program. and has re-
fected 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
tel lthc House Naval Committee the
navy was unfit for war. that there was
nc coordination OF effort ana that the
American people ought to know tho
facts. He amazed the naval commit
tee. when asked whose business it was
to prepare war plans and sec the feet
got practice in them, by saying: 1T Is
nobodys business"
His attitude did not please Secretary
Daniels and for months there has been
| friction. Seeking to advise Secretary
Daniels on the military side of naval
| matters. he found his advice ignored.
| Yst Il
and the like were not CLOSED over by
him and he found the truth as he saw II
unpalatable to those higher up"
Naval men know Fiske as one of the
ablest and most ACCOMPLISHED officers
| in the service. A studious and quiet
looking man. he is ilghcr and his idea
of navy is a navy that can fight and
win battles
The retirement of Fiske has stirred {
| great sensation In naval circles. Com
| ing on the heels of the Honolulu dis
| aster. it Is likely to attract the atten
| tion of Congress.
Ono OF the defects Of the navy IN re
cont months has been the lack o.
tho battleships. This has caused sever,
| criticism. Tho sad condition of sub
| marine preparedness was brought on
| before the House Naval Committee b!
Commander Yates Stirling, who said il
| substance only two Of the Atlantic sub
rmarine fiotilla were ft for service.
Now, Secretary Daniels has given or
ders for a spectacular naval show of
New York harbor In June. The purpos
| OF this is to let the public sec how
we'll prepared the feet Is. But nava
| officers point out that maneuVers sucl
| as this may awe the public, but to ex
perts cannot gloss over the deficiencies
of the fleet and its lack of a we'll
rounded character
Secretary Daniels has not decide,
where he will detail Admiral Fiske. II
has a years service before retirement
| He may be appointed to the genera
board or sent to one of the navy yards