New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-13
THE MUZZLE OF JOSEPHUS.

Discussion r'ol,s 'or .cd0, and 'risc dcc'e'ot-
From the annual repor, Of the Secretary Of the Navy
Early in December Golfers" arranged with
Rear Admiral Bradley Allen Fiske for series
Of articles on the United States Navy. The
articles were to be non political in character.
The sole intention was 10 give our read",s a
practical understanding Of the vast and iptri-
,ste n,ac1.1e gpon which the safety and
honor Of the nation depend so largely, and 20
present facts and theories of national defence
which are only accessible now to those who
can read and understand the technical maya
zines Before the first Of these article could
be put in type we received letter from Ad-
miral Fiske saying that it was impossible for
him to carry out his contract because he had
been forbidden by the Secretary Of the Navy
t. write or speak publicly on any subject con-
nocted with the national defence.
1t appears that on December "a Admiral
Fiske reported at the Office of the Secretary
of the Navy, where Mr.. Daniels opened the
conversation by saying that he had SEEN an
article by the admiral in "The North Ameri-
can Review" OF which he disapproyed, and
added that if the admiral had been a younger
officer he would have court martialled him for
publishing it without first referring 1t 70 the
department Admiral Fiske retorted that he
had submitted the article in question and four
others as we'll and that they had all been ap-
proved By the Secretary. Mr.. Daniels replied
that he remembered approving several art-
cles, but that he had supposed they were in
tended for the proceedings of the Naval In
he in gl.o
these words: an any case. | want you to
understand that | expressly forbid you to
write or speak in any publication or anywhere
on national defence" Admiral Fiske e1-
planned that the articles for "Collier's' were
intended solely 20 make technical matters
clear to laymen. Mr. Daniels answered: 81
don't care You cannot write or speak on any
subject connected with the national defence.
If the people really want to know anything
about the navy, they can come TO its head.
You cannot even say two and two make four. "
OF course. there remained nothing for Ad-
miral Fske to do but 70 cancel his agree
ment with "Collier's." On our side we felt We
had right 10 ask in detail for his reasons,
which are set forth briefly above. AZ the
same time he was obliged TO withdraw his &C
ceptance OF an invitation to address the Com
mercial Club, of Chicago. In short, the Sec
rotary of the Navy has successfully sienced
one of the most distinguished officers in the
service Not only the readers of "Collier's'
and the public generally, but Admiral Fiske 5
associates will be denied the benefits Of his
counsel while the statesman from North Caro-
lima is in control, for the order. becomes
the magnifcence Of the great man who issued
it. is thoroughly comprehensive. Moreover
through it every man in the navy who might
| feel disposed to offer suggestions advice,
based on practical knowledge. is forewarned
of the wrath OF the mighty sea lord. II the
public want TO know anything, they must APP
ply to the source of wisdom they must ask
Josephus.
II the matter we're not so serious, We might
be disposed to laugh over il. 1t possesses
many of the elements Of comedy. We shall
rot emphasize the picture which no doubt
the reader has already drawn IN MS mind OF
the scene in the Secretary's ofhce-the vet
eran of forty years service, the sea fighter
mentioned in dispatches for "heroic con-
duct" the sailor, author, inventor, bowling be
fore the wrath of the majestic figure in the
swivel chair But something more important
than the temporary discontinue of a brilliant
officer, however unpleasant this is TO think
about. is involved in the incident. II is more
tran an outrageous violation OF the personal
rights OF a public servant, which would not
be tolerated under the most exscting military
system in Europe. Without precedent or
parallel in the department, it is An attempt,
and not the last il it prove successful. to cut
Off the public from their only trustworthy
sources OF information about naval affairs.
Anyone who is at all acquainted with the
recent official communications from the Navy
Department must know how unreliable they
are, how they confuse and distort facts, cloud
the real issues and risinterpret the argu-
ments and plans of the experts. II is not too