New-York tribune., 1920-05-12
Wilson Urged
Navy to Take
Risks to Win
Fleet Officers Ordered to
.sThrow Tradition to the
Winds" in Talk OH Flag
ship OH August Ill, 1917
British Caution Deplored
foe Best To Be Conquered
by Audacity, He Advised:
No Sacrifice Too Great

WASHINGTON, May Ii President
rJson's hitherto unpublished war in
..rnctions to the officers of the At
,.ntic feet. given in person on the
o,,rter deck Of the flagship Pennsyl-
,,,i. or August II, 1917. and bidding
.,sn throw tradition to the wind"
,trke the word prudent from their
,oeabularies and do the thing that
;s sudacious 10 the utmost point of risk
and dsrin~." were made public mere to-
dsv By Secretary Daniels.
The President spoke as commandcr
in chief OF the navy and at a time
nbcn the German submarine menace
was uncurbed In laying the text "
his remarks before the Senate naval
Investigating committee Secretary
Daniels said they showed the bold and
vigorous policy the President had out
lined for the navy,
DO not stop to think what is pru-
den: for moment the President
said. you VII win by the audacity
Of method when YOU cannot win by
eircums pectior and prudence.
Il think that there are willing ears
:o hear this in the american navy and
the American army because that is the
Kind of folks we arc.
There will have to come new ira
dition into service which does not
do new and audacious and successful
things"
Dissatised With Progress
The President also expressed his
dissatisfaction with progress then be-
ing made toward crushing the subma-
riEe campaign.
I'VE are hunting hornets all over tie
farm and letting the nest alone" he
said Il am willing. for my part and
know that you are willing. because
know the stuff you are made Of | am
willing to sacrifice half the navy
Great Britain and we together have to
crush that nest because if we crush
Il the war Is Won
The British Admiralty had met Amer
lean suggestions with what amounted
TO statements tnat 1T never had been
done the President said. adding:
"And felt like saying Well, nothing
vas ever done so systematically 4.
nothing is being done now
In opening his address to the officer;
Mr.. Wilson said:
Admiral Mayo and gentlemen:
Il have not come here with malice
prepense to make speech. but have
come here to have a look at YOU anC
to say some things that perhaps may
De intimately said, and, even though
the company is large, said in con.
hdencc.
All Amateurs in This War
This is an unprecedented war, and
therefore It Is war III one sense for
: amateurs. Nobody ever before con
ducted war like this, and therefore
nobody can pretend TO be a profcs-
sonal Ill war like this. Here arc
TWO great navles, not to speak of the
others associated with Us-our owr
and the British outnum bering by {
very great margin the navy to which
we are opposed, and yet casting abou
for way in which to use our superb
orty and our strength.
Now, somebody has got to think
this war out. Somebody has got tc
tank out the way not only to fgh
the submarine but to do something
different from what we are doing.
We are hunting hornets all over thc
farm and letting the nest alone. None
Of US knows how to go to the nest anC
crush it, and yet l despair of hunting
Tor hornets all over the sea when
Trha he i,-o l. +l,a.
the nest is breeding hornets as fas
as | can find them. | am willing fol
my part, and know you are willing be
cause know the stuff you are made
OIL am willing to sacrifice half the
navy Great Britain and we together
nave to crush that nest, because if W.
crush 1t the war is won. | have come
mere to say that | do not care where
1t comes from, do not care whetheI
It comes from the Youngest officer O
lnc Oldest, but | want the officers O
'ols navy TO have the distinction o
saying how this war is going to be won
Open Field for Suggestions
I am willing to make any sacrifc
!or that. mean any sacrifice Of tim
or anything. else. | am ready to pu
myself at the disposal of any Office
NIAp (tiiIAhS ne hIlONS ION
to run this war. will not undertake
70 tell you whether ne does or not
because I know that l do not but
VIII undertake to put him in communi
.aIlon with those VINO can find ou
s.He'her his idea will work or not
nave the authority to do that an
viii vi do it with the greatest pleasure
g. l wish that could think and ha
t"e oralns to think in the terms o
.ta!ine .SIa w rfarC. because l would fee
ien ioen that waa figuring out the futur
history Of the political freedom O
mankind. | do not see how any ma,
Saa,. Ssa look at the flag of the Unite
Ssates and fail having his min
crowded with "Reminiscences of tn
number lumber Of unselfish men, seeking n
yoJeet W. S Of their own. the advantage o
o: OF o9;I.aIy oy;nasty, the advantage of no erou
o< PlNileged people. but the advantac
us fellow men, who have died unde
~ 'oids Of that beautiful emblem