The Washington herald., 1915-04-25
TpD|IZ .Gemanys Eternal Nava|HfQO

1o9dQuoxtef9 was 2bOusnod and many
okAsr administrative reforms introduced
In the midst Of his work at Kiel
he was dispatched in command of the
squadron with which Prince Henry of
Prussia made the tour Of the east in
1886. In the following year he was re-
called and given a free hand in carrying
out for himself the changes which he
had consistently advocated. Germany's
naval ambitions took definite shape in
1897 and since that time, under the
fostering hand of the man who was re-
sponsible for their inception, they have
grown into the present fourishing and
enicient feet.
The march Of events has also helped
the early years Of his Office his crusade
lacked the propelling impetus of a na-
tional illustration of the correctness Of
his views. Opportunity, however, comes
to all men who are able to think for
themselves and to think a little In adj
vance Of their neighbors.
At the moment when he was Struggling
to win popular opinion to the support Of
his policy and was finding 1t difficult, BY
reason of the increasing burden Of taxa
ton which a big ship program was throw
Ing upon the shoulders of the nation,
there came in the autumn of 1899 the
incident when a German mail packet was
seized by a British man-of-war. In that
hour Won Tfrpitz knew that he had fought
battle and won a victory. great and
memorable.
Success was ushered in by the naval
law of 1900 which was born from tho
patriotic outburst that the incident of the
previous year had caused. Honors fell
TO Admiral Won Tirpitz and orders for
big ships came to the yards.
After two years service in the admi-
rally he was a vice admiral. The passing
Of the naval bill of 1900 brought him
hereditary nobility and the launching Of
the big ships for which the bill provided
made him a full admiral. The supple
mentary naval bill of 1907 won him the
Order Of the Black Eagle while his pres
emit situation in Germany shows that his
policy was not only correct but has the
united support Of the German people.
In appearance Admiral Won Tirpits
scarcely suggests the man that his policy
has shown him to be. He is more than
SIX feet in height. He is stout and bald.
His flowing whiskers parted in the middle
are his most characteristic mark. His
manner Is extremely mild, though de-
termined, and Is somewhat more academic
and PROFESSIONAL than bureaucratic. But
there is nothing whatever Of the doc
trinaire about him and he explains his
policy and his successes that he has
merely made good Germany's naval de-
hciencies. The whole spirit Of the man
70 paternal until he is aroused by oppo-
sition and then his great, height, his
great breadth. and his great whiskers all
unite to form a perfect hurricane of fury.
Strangely enough in naval affairs 40
miral Won Tirpitz has always admired
the English. It was not so long before
the outbreak Of the present war that he
said at q banquet in London:
IAN English admiral-it was Admiral
Hopkins, II I am not much mistaken
once said: All can desire is that the
good fellowship and mutual understand
ing that exists between the officers and
men Of the British navy and the officers
and men Of the German navy may be
typical Of the mutual relations between
the two nations As these words Of the
English admiral entirely express my own
convictions, ! adopt them as my own"
He has often been In England, where
he has a good many personal friends. At
the time when there was no naval attache
in London he was frequently sent to the
German embassy on special missions. He
speaks English fuently and has a good
we'll as of the views and mode Of life Of
English people. He is we'll read in Eng
fish literature.