THE LOG OF AN ADMIRAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 18, 16 October 1919, Page 5

THE LOG OF AN ADMIRAL

LORD FISHER'S PIQUANT RECOLLECTIONS THE DARDANELLES ADVENTURE By Teloersnh-Preeß AeßOciatl<)n-OoDvrieli» fliec. October 15, 5.5 pm.) London, Octolier It. 111-Lord Fisher's memories, published in "The Times," the author tells a piquant storv of the wa.r. A gigantic conception of an invasion of Gsrmany through the Baltic, with threo armies, including a Russian army, following an immense fleet, dominated him while he was at the Admiralty, and ho still insist? that this would have ended tho war in 1915. At the War Councils he was tho only navfll representative opposed to the Dardanelles operations, but he adds: "I backed Mr. Churchill because he had courage and imnginiilion." Lord Fisher eventually resigned because he could not stn.net tho lying by which the Dardanelles operat'ons were, kept going. He (•cuffs nit tho official spokesmen who ludicrously asserted that the. Turks were coming to the last round of their ammunition. He admits that there was frequent tension in thow days between him and Kitchener. He delivered an ultimatum one day to Lord Kitchener that if the Queen Elizabeth was not withdrawn from the Dardanelles Jie would leave the Admiralty next day.Luckily she did leave, for the submarine which had bosn prowling round for a fortnight looking for her, night blew up her wooden dummy, thinking he hud got her. Ho )ii:it.s that at one time there was a big scheme to polish off every eoul on Heligoland and the surrounding fleet by a deadly pnison gas. Ho describes Kitchener as a great man but also a. ureal deception, inasmuch that he could not- bs what people thought. Like Moses he was a great commissariat officer, but he was no Napoleon or Moltlce. }\" was a Carnot in exeelsis, but the facile dupe of his own failings—"The Times."

THE HARNE-AND AFTER-EX-CROWN nONCE THKORISES. (liec. October 15. 7.10 p.m.) Berlin, October 1.1. The "Taglischo Rimdsehau" publishes n letter from the Crown Prince saying that the Battle of tho Marne was only such a grave failure owing to tho then nrmy leaders losing their heads. It was clear to him in Hie autumn of 19U that the war could no longer be brought to a successful military end. Ho then wished to conclude peace , with France. Ho further comnlnins of the lack of resolute political"loadershin during the war ami the failure to make pence with linglnnd on the basis of economic com-promise--fleutpr. ■