LATE LORD FISHER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 589, 3 December 1920, Page 3

LATE LORD FISHER.

A STORY OF THE FALKLAND BATTLE.

Referring to the death of Lord Fisher, Sir Thomas Mackenzie writes to a Chriutchurch friend as follows: "In connection with the Dardanelles Commission u very sincere friendship aiose between Admiral Lord Fisher iind myself, and during his painful illness I received from him, letters full of hope and courage. I shall never forget the following incident, which occurred before the Commission; Lord Fisher was blamed by some of the members for not stating at the Imperial War Council's table his objections to the Dardanelles scheme. He replied, 'I advised my Minister, Mr. Churchill.' The clfab'man of the Commission said that was not sufficient; he ought to have spoken. I contended that he had done all that was necessary, and that constitutionally his attitude was light. This contention was supported by other authorities, and. Lord Fisher's gratitude was exceedingly great in consequence, as he might otherwise have been censured. A member iof the Commission (I think it was Lord Sterndale) asked Lord Fisher for his opinion of Mr. Churchill. The Admiral gave a characteristically emphatic reply, adding, however, that he would not 'let Winston down,' because it was he who had supported binf*-in his demand for two ships to proceed to the Falkland Islands. The Admiralty had refused, stating that they could not be spared, and even if they could be spared, that they could not be made ready for a month. Lord Fisher said: 'They must leave to-night,' and he called for Mr. Churchill's assistance. After keen discussion, the ships were dispatched that night. The Admiral, in giving his evidence, assumed a striking posprTiTe, and, holding up his hand, said, 'How long were they at the Falkland Islands before they were required? Ten minutes ! And had they not been there the Germans would have sunk cur ships, and what would have been the consequences ? They had ten thousand time-expired soldiers in the Argentine, ready to build a fort and to make the defences of the Falklands a second Gibraltar. Once established they would have interfered with the work in South Africa, and they would have become a serious menace throughout the Pacific.