The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-04
SENATE GIVES OUT
The FISKE LETTER
rillmau lphOlds Daniels.
While Lodge Defends ADMIRAL
in sharp Debate.
OFFICER ASKS INQl TRY

OFF, Err ASKS INQt Try
C,su,>.ro~. May 81 sharp de-
s,e marked tho publication by the Sem
40 ,o.dl, of tho letter written by Rear
ur,,, F.kc. former Chief of Opera
IONS attacking the veracity of Secro-
ar, Daniels in this letter, which
,,ouscd controversy in the Senate >cs-
!, ,,-day. ADMIRAL Fiske hatly contradictcd
snr..,rr uanicls's denial that until
...,,tly he had no knowledge Of a re-
.or, made u, the Admiral on November
T, 1914. warning the Secretary that the
.,yy vas no, prepared to wag effective
warfare
The secretary IT the Navy has moth
mr. 10 conceal and courts an investiga-
, ron II one 5 demanded" declared Sena-
.o- Tillman. who announced that the
naval Committee. of which he Is chair
man. had decided 20 make the Fiske
.etisr public.
y. ,h,r the Secretary nor his friends
mere like this kim Of guerrilla warfare.
Therefore | content myself with asking
.s,, Fishe letter to the Vice President
!. published in the record, so hat all
NAV Judge how little there really is to
b. %utterances except malice and
solnded vanity. Disappointed ambition.
,,o has had much TO do with his con-
dy., lie has brooded over what he
x.n,oscs 20 he his wrongs until he seems
=, be ohsssed. and I really feel sorry for
MIN
senator Lodge. who demanded yester-
Adv The publication of the Fiske letter.
defended the Admiral.
Lodge Defends Fiske.
1.-THE Secretary OF the Navy has seen
4, on several occasions to attack Ad-
nr,i Fiske.' said senator Lodge. "Ad-
nir,l Fiske is an officer Of the highest
J rank. lie has had an career
, the navy. lie has engaged in no
,uerrilla warfare. but has only the de-
IRE that is the right Of every honest
nan 10 rrotest his own reputation"
In his letter to the Senate Admiral
ris.e began with "A reference to the
,atencnt made by Secretary Daniels
,so weeks ago that he had never been
furnished with a % of the Fiske re-
ror. on uuprcparedness asked for by a
senate resolution. lie expressed sur
,r!se that such a report was on ME
without his knowledge ADMIRAL tiske
.a,d N substance that the Secretarys
.,.t4r.u, was untrue. and he continued
"Tbe statement. constituted an accu-
s,,iou against me of u grave breach ~
oHci,l propriety--in fact, OF actual
observation-disclosures. Of an attempt TO
.onceal an important letter from the
s4rretary while as a matter OF tact
was always scrupulously careful never
10 permit him to receiye or 10 remain
Under any mistaken impression or 70
b. In ignorance Of any important matter
/ { | could prevent IL
his Reputation Injured.
"The statement appeared in the NeS
YorN Hcrdid and in many otner papers
o. Ap-l %. 1916. n injured my repu'
;stou for fair dealing.
.For TINS reason. | respectfully re
lue,t permission to appear before sucf
nelson's As YOU may designate and stat
.ac,s which | and other officers re
member very clearly. and which arS
] noted IN my diary, showing that ther.
}, has been a lapse OF memory on the par
g! IN. secretary. In particular WIS.,
:, show the two following entries ma
appear Ia my diary:
"No,elnber ) showed Secretary
pap.r | had written to him stating
navy is u~nprepared, needs more men.
more training n a general stan. lie
|. made almost no on my paper.
though he read il carefully. During
conversation Secretary referred to
time IN cary April. 1913. &c.
~ "A atn tEaI MI
Secretary a copy OF my letter TO
Secretary on preparedness of the
navy. lack Of training, lack OF general
stiff. g.. He said II was bully and
b. would keep it, &c"
Explains change In Dates.
Attention Is invited TO the fact thai
although the cop of the letter sent I
the Senate was dated Nov. ?, Will
: tire entry in my diary was Nov. .. ye
nevertheless my diary shows that IN
contents Of the letter were the sam
ss the contents of the letter or NOV
My recollection IL that / kept IN
letter on my desk a few days, intendin
10 take up the matter again with IN
Secretary, but finally decided not to d
%, but merely to fle 1t; and that
fresh copy was made. The date wa
probably changed by inadvertence but n
change was made in the letter beyon
possibly some verbal alterations. Gel
'AiNly no change was made IN the char
setter or purport Of the letter.
II y should also Ike TO prove by m
Gary that this letter was merely TN
c"locUtrtted essence of a great man
ora conversations carried on Frequent
after the war began. in which ! re
pea'ediv urged Oh the Secretary tn
perl Of the country and the need 10
\ more men. a general stan and NOR
progressive training.
In case you do not deem II wise I
grant 'uNs request, ! then ask you, as
mt'let Of justice, to give this letter a
mum publicity AS was given to tn
letter ~ the Secretary"