New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-24
The Suppressed Fiske Letter.


private files Of the Navy Department the
letter addressed to him on November Q,
1914. by Rear Admiral Bradley A. fiSke
lie refused to make this communication
public when asked to do so by Representa-
tive Britten. Of Illinois. at one of the hear
ings before the House Naval Affairs Com
mittec last March. 1t has come to light
now only because the Senate passed res
olution calling on the Secretary to pro
duce it.
Admiral Fiske was the Secretary's Aid
for Operations when he wrote this notable
memorandum on the unpreparedness of
the navy. The war in Europe had been
raging for four months and it was already
evident that the United States, far from
enjoying n favored position of aloofness
and isolation. was going to have all IT
could do to keep from being dragged into
the conflict 4 careless, superficial optl-
mist like President Wilson might delude
himself with the idea Expressed in his
message to Congress on December 3, l9l4),
that the war was "a war with which we
have nothing to do, whose causes cannot
touch US. whose existence affords us op-
portunitics Of friendship and disinterestcd
service which should make us ashamed OF
any thought Of hostility or fearful prepa-
ration for trouble"
But those who were accustomed to deal
with facts. not illusions, who were the re-
sponsiblc advisers Of the military branches
of the government, had no right TO shut
themselves up in such a FOOLS paradise.
They were obliged by sense of profess
sional and patriotic duty to face the reali-
tics Of the situation and to warn those at
the head of the military departments Of
the complications ahead and of the un-
readiness of the country to defend itself
in case of trouble.
1t was no special gift of prophecy which
moved Admiral Fiske to write TO Secre-
tary Daniels in November, 1914:
During the next five years we must
expect a great number of causes Of
disagreement between this country
and other countries, and periods of
tension between this government and
others periods like that preceding the
Spanish War. needing only a casualty
like the blowing up of the Maine TO
precipitate conflict
"In my opinion, as your profession
al adviser. and in the opinion of every
naval officer with whom have talked,
the United States is in danger Of be-
ing drawn into war, and will continue
TO be in danger for several years"
That was a counsel of common sense,
which only shallow and infatuated ideal
list would have thought Of challenging.
Yet Mr.. Daniels-acting in harmony, it is
true. with Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Bryan
did challenge it. He refused to admit that
anything exceptional in the way of naval
preparation was needed. He closed his
eyes TO all the obvious defects in the navy's
organization. He cut down the very mod
crate recommendations of increases in ma
terial and personnel which the General
Board was allowed to make for publica-
tion. lie persuaded Congress, against its
better judgment, not TO establish the
equivalent Of Naval General Staff.
lie continued obstinately to work
against the creation Of a real and adequate
navy, capable of protecting American in
terests in a great emergency. In his an
nual report for 1914, published month
after Admiral Fishes memorandum was
written. he fatuously argued in favor Of an
international conference, to be called for
the purpose of reducing armament and
dreadnoughts and submarines" and init
mated that the honor was being reserved
for America of initiating a movement
which viii make possible reduction Of
fighting craft without imperilling the
rights Of any peoples
Admiral Fiske's letter was the cool.
measured, rational statement Of student
and an expert. II showed precisely in
what respects the navy was most lacking
in personnel, in organization and in
training. All that II said has been said
scores Of times since, but never more com
pactly or convincingly.
Yet 70 the dull brain and rooted proju-
diccs Of Josephus Daniels this admirable
presentation Of the case for naval prepa-
ration conveyed no meaning. II has con
'eyed no meaning when repeated and
ampihed many times subsequently. Mr.
Daniels still sets his own misjudgmcnt
above the advice Of any and all experts.
His ignorance is Law in the Navy Depart
mcnt. As ono Of his protegcs and adula
tors testified recently before the House
Committee on Naval Affairs: "Thc Sec
rotary is always there lat the Navy De
partmentl, anxious % keep In touch with
everything that is going on. With the
backing Secretary Daniels always has
given me there's nothing left 10 be- dc
sired"
Il il time for Congro-. ~ turn from The