The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-04-24
Admiral's Statement of the
United States Unprepar-
edness Given to Senate
1T WAS DATED
NOVEMBER 8, 1914
Declares Navy Was Short
1860 Men at That
Time

| Washington, d. c., April 24.-Secre.
tary Daniels transmitted to the Senate
Saturday the much discussed communi.
cation from Rear Admiral Bradley A.
Fiske, dated Nov. 0, 1914, warning the
secretary that the navy was unprepared
for war.
The communication was sent TO the
Senate in response to the Lodge resolu-
ton adopted April IL, calling on Secre-
tary Daniels to submit letter from the
navy general board, dated Aug 3, 1914,
and communication from Rear Admiral
Fiske, dated Nov. Q, 1914. Representa-
tive Britten asked Mr.. Daniels to pro-
duce them during the latters examina-
ton before the House naval committee
and the secretary refused. Search at the
navy department has now failed to dis.
close the letter from the general board.
IF this country avoids war during the
next five years it will be accomplished
only by happy combination of high
diplomatic skill and rare good fortune"
was the admirals solemn opinion form
ally expressed to the secretary of the
navy.
The Letter.
Rear Admiral Fiske stated that the
navy was then short 1860 men. The
ships, he said, were well organized and
pretty well drilled" The navy depart
ment itself he characterized as neither
organized nor drilled in military way
The failure OF Secretary Daniels to give
serious heed to this warning is expected
to be discussed extensively in Congress. |
The letter follows:
From Aide for Operations.
"To Secretary of the Navy:
Subject: The navy's unpreparedness
for war.
81. beg leave, respectfully, but ur-
gently, to request the attention of the
secretary to the fact that the United
States navy is unprepared for war.
%. 1t is true that the United States
does not expect to get into war in the
near future and is not preparing for war.
Il is true that nothing could be more
inwise than for the country or the navy /,
tself to become nervous about the condi-
ion OF war into which most of the civil
zed world has been plunged. 1t is true
hat there is no cause for excitement,
md it is also true that even the most
imid person can give no specific reason
or anticipating war with any given
country at any given time.
%. 1t is also true, however, that the !
mere absence of actual certainty of com
ng war is no reason for neglecting prep {
ration. Some persons assume that a
disposition to make preparation evil ]
ences state Of alarm in the mind of [
he person who proposed to make prep 8
ration. Iet such an assumption is en- |
irely illogical. Wise men and wise ma i
ions show their wisdom in no better /
gay than by taking wise precautions c
gainst possible dangers. The prevalence Y
I smallpox induces wise people to guard I
heir families against it by vaccination. t
hey do not expect to be attacked by t
but nevertheless they think t
wise to take precautions against it. t
His Duty as an Adviser.
"a. Because of the position which Il
ave occupied for more than year and
half as senior adviser to the secretary h
the navy it has been my duty to keep Fl
lyself informed as far as have been G
BILE of the conditions of the various ma fl
ons in relation to war, the effects of q
ne condition upon us, the strength of r,
lr navy compared with other navies
nd the degree of probability of our be- v
x dragged into war. l
SO. The present condition all over the q
orld is one of general upheaval. The
ate of unstable equilibrium which the
eat powers maintained for many years
it'll great skill and care has been at last D
pset. A conflict is going on, very few n
suits of which can be foretold. One u
ling probably can be foretold. however p'
1 mean that it can be foretold that 81
e conflict will be violent and also will e
, long, involving other countries than u
lose now taking part and followed even q
ter the war as present outlined has 81
zen ended by a series of more Or less OF
olent readiustments of boundaries, in re
Ihr possessions, treaties and agree m
ents of every kind. o.
"6. Surely he would be an optlmist w
no would expect that state of general va
ace will come in less than five years. OF
Ion