Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-12
ing editorial, reviewing inc
Daniels incident:
.r,-zzyr or 1OSEPHUS.


OF the Secretary OF the Navy.
Fariy in December Golfers ar
ranged with Rear Admiral Bradley
Allen FYske for a series Of articles on
the United States navy. The articles
we're to be non-political in character.
The sole intention was to give our
readers a practical understanding OF
the vast and intricate machine upon
which the safety and honor OF the ma
ton depend so largely. and to present
facts and theories of national defense
which are only accessible now TO those
who can read and understand the tech
nical magazines. Before the first OF
these articles could be put in type we
received a letter from Admiral Fiske
saving that it was impossible for him
to carry out his contract because he
had been forbidden b ythe Secretary Of
the Navy to write or speak publicly on
any subject connected with the Ma
tional defense.
1t appears that on December "a Ad-
miral 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 American
Review" of which he disapproved. and
added that il the Admiral had been a
younger officer he would have court
martialed him for publishing it with
out first referring it to the depart
ment. Admiral Fiske retorted that he
had submitted the article in question
and four others as well, and that they
NV, hn
tary. Mr.. Daniels replied that he re-
membered approving several articles,
but that he had supposed they were in
tended for the proceedings OF the Ma
val Institute. Then he went on to
say in about these words: I'm any
case / want you to understand that I
expressly forbid you to write or speak
in any publication or anywhere on ma
tional defense" Admiral Fiske ex-
planned that, the articles for Golfers
We're intended solely to make technical
matters clear to laymen. Mr.. Daniels
answered; Il don't care. You cannot
write or speak on any subject con-
nected with the national defense. If
the people really want to know any,
thing about the navy, they can come
to its head. You cannot even say two
and two make four"
OF course there remained nothing for
Admiral Fiske to do but TO cancel his
agreement with Golfers. One our side
We felt we had right to ask in detail
for his reasons, which are set forth
briefly above. At the same time he
was obliged to withdraw his accept
ance of an invitation to address the
Commercial Club Of Chicago. In short,
the Secretary of the Navy has sue
cessfully silenced one Of the most dis
tinguished officers in the service. Not
only the readers Of Golfers and the
public generally, but Admiral Fiske's
associates will be denied the benefit of
his counsel while the statesman from
North Carolina is in control, for the
order as becomes the magnificence of
the great man who issued it, is thor
ouehly comprehensive. Moreover,
Through it every man in the navy who
might feel disposed to offer sugees-
tons or device, based on practical
knowledge, is forewarned Of the wrath
Of the mighty sea lord. If the public
want to know anything, they must ap-
must ask Josephus
III the matter were not so serious, we
might be disposed to laugh over It. 1t
possesses many of the elements of
comedy. We shall not emphasize the
picture which no doubt the reader has
already drawn in his mind OF the
scene in the Secretary's off1cet-he VET
eran OF 40 years service. the sea fight
or mentioned in dispatches for "heroic
conduct, the sailor, author, inventor
boWing before the wrath Of the aies-
TIC figure in the swivel chair. Rut
something more important than the
temporary discomforture Of a brill
liant officer. however unpleasant this
IS 10 thlnk about. is involved in the in
cideht. II Is more than an outrageous
violation OF the personal rights of q
pnbAc servant, which would not he
Tolerated under the most exacting mill
tary system in Europe Without pre-
cedent or parallel in the department. it
IS an attempt. and not the last n If
prove successful, to cut ofY.the nuhlic
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 knov
no" unreliable they are, how thew con.
iuse and distort facts, cloud the roo,
issues and misinterpret the arguments
ana plans of the experts. It Is not too
Aiuch TO say that no one who ia not
shilied IN the detection of error would
y. ATE 10 gain from them information
OF real value in determining the actual
c"hol.ion OF the navy. Up to this time
the President. Congress, the news
papers land the public have been ohIa
10 INFORM themselves through the nuh.
nc statements of men Of position who
Know the facts and are ah,a n .e.
them forth intelligently. But If the
poilcy first displayed in the interview,
with Admiral Fiske is carried ont
there Will be an end Of all information
mat Is not sifted through the Office of
the Secretary and tinted for political
purposes. For if an officer of Admiral
flske's standing can be silenced, what
freedom of speech is to be expected
from men who have no such record NJ
long and brilliant service as his ia
piead Tor them in a contest with tho
pohtlcal head Of the department? II ia
peculiarly unfortunate that tbia oo+
OF petty tyranny should have occurred
at tEls particular time when a ereat
hational necessity exists for a most
thorough discussion of the question ~
deIense and when Congress- 10 a. ~.