Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-21

at Hampton Roads sometime before next
July. 1t may prove to be an epoch max
ing event, and Hampton Roads may es-
tablish certain facts which will revolu-
tionize naval warfare as the fight of the
Monitor and the Merrimac on that same
stretch of water revolutionized 1t in 1852.
One of my last acts as Secretary of
the Navy was to direct that certain of the
German ships which were turned over to
us, and which, under the agreed terms,
must be destroyed, should be used in a
series Of experiments in which airmen
should attempt to destroy them.
The Secretary of War Joined me in ask
ing the joint board Of the Army and
Navy to work out plans by which the
experiment should be conducted In way
to truly test whether the aeroplane has
put the dreadnaugbt out of business. The
plans were perfected and the test will
be made.
When 1 had given the order for this
test, the newspaper men asked me If
there would be any sailors on the dread
naughts when the tests were made. I
answered by saying that in a fair test
between the surface craft and the air
craft I would volunteer myself and guar
antee to put a crew on board the ship.
81 do not think those who fought the
bomber would be doomed to destruction"
said. "They at least would have a
sporting chance"
Nobody can predict what the ship of
tomorrow will be. We cannot foresee
the Developments of fight or the full
possibilities of the submersible. Every
new weapon of destruction calls forth
its eounter-weapon.
SAYS WAIT
AND SEE.
Ny own advice would be-if the advice
Of an sex" is ever wanted-"Wait until
the big experiment is pulled off at
Hampton Roads before deciding what the
ship Of the future is to be- And then
in spite of Lord Fishers cocksureness
that the big ship is heading for in
nocuous desuetude-do not scrap any
weapon that sails on the sea, dives under
the sea or flies IN the air. All three are
safer than dependence on any one alone.
Having discussed this serious and i'm
portant problem at some length, let me
finish this article by relating two stories
told me by Lord Fisher at a banquet
which was given in my honor by the
Methodists of Great Britain. 1 have
never seen these stories anywhere in
print.
King Edward had great fondness for
Fisher and promoted him to be first sea
lord, the summit of every British naval
officers ambition.
81 had not been first lord long Fisher
said to me at this dinner, when one day
King Edward sent for me. OF course,
appeared promptly, and, after some talk
about naval matters. for the king was
keen about the navy, King Edward sud
denly said to me:
Ny appointment of you as first lord
has brought me more unpopularity than
any act of mine since I became king"
KING PICKS
WINNER.
Lord Fisher paused a moment to let
me take 1t in, for he had the talent of
an actor as well as of the good story
teller Naturally 1 wondered what reply
a subject could make to his king who
had seemed TO regret an honor he had
conferred upon him.
What answer did you maker" was the
natural question from a man who cuItl-
Yates informing curiosity
Il didn't hesitate a second and 1t didn't
feaze me in the least / Immediately said
to the king:
Your majesty, I congratulate you upon
your wisdom in picking a winner"
We were talking about speeches and
some good speeches were made at that
dinner. Lord Fisher asked me what was
the best speech I had ever heard That
was a poser. I had only that week heard
half dozen Of the greatest speakers In
Great Britain and had hardly finished
applauding a remarkable speech by
Fisher. I hesitated. He loved to talk
and how entertaining he was-and he
continued:
BEST HE
EVER HEARD.
The best speech 1 ever heard was
made by an American admiral. who as
1 understand, did not think he could
make speech. l was at Philadelphia at
big dinner, attended by many big men. |
was called upon to speak and gave
warm praise to the achievements and
standing Of the American Navy, praising
its officers in terms they deserved and
expressing the sentiment that the navies
Of the two great English speaking ma
tons were doing much to strengthen the
friendly feeling between the two coun-
tries.
The audience appIauded me-and my
speech was worth applauding, l can as
sure you (this with an inimitable smile) /
and then I sat down. Your Admiral
Sampson was the ranking officer of your
Navy present. He did not rise and evil |
IDENTIFY did not intend to speak until sew |
eral naval officers by nudges and sugges- |
tions conveyed to him the information
that he ought to respond to the speech |
Of the British admiral Finally he rose, |
looked about him for a period as If not !
knowing what to say, and then without
preface, Sampson made this b-ief and
brilliant speech:
Well, all l have to say is this: 1t
was a d fine bird that Matched the
American eagle"
And as he told me this Admiral Fish
er's eyes fairly beamed with enthusiasm
over what. he repeated. was the besi
er-dinner speech he had ever heard.
Copyright. 1921, by John F. Ollie. Copy
right by National Newspaper Service.
Copyright in Great Britain, Canada and
throughout France. All rights reserved,
including translation into foreign Ian
guages, including the Scandinavian. I'm
authorized reprinting for any purpose
forbidden.
(AnOther article by former Secretary
Daniels will be printed Monday
DISCUSS SCHOOL BUILDING.
Plans for the proposed new school
building at School No. 20, Central avenue
and Forty Sixth street, were discussed
last night at a meeting Of the Parent
Teacher Association Members Of the |
board Of school commissioners together |