FAMOUS ADMIRALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 184, 25 July 1908, Page 4

FAMOUS ADMIRALS.

Admiral Sir John Fisher is as groat a personal friend of his Majesty as lie was of the late Queen Victoria, "Jacky" Fisher, as he is affectionately called : n the Navy, is one of the hardest-worked men in the Empire, and his reputation for discipline has made him almost as much feared as he is admired. Everyone in tile Navy believes in him, however, and he could receive no greater compliment than that which was paid him by a certain young lieutenant some time ago. Sir John was being diseuss: j d among a number of junior officers, when one remarked that the Admiral womd probably be " shelved " by the age limit before he bad brought about tliejnany reforms he desired. "My dear fellow," said one of his companions, '• that only goes to show that you don't know •Jacky' Fisher; if 'Jacky' wants to slav on he'll stay, even if he has to revise tho British Constitution for the purpose." Sir John Fisher's devotion to duty is such that he will brook no shirking from any man under him, and woe betide the unfortunate officer or " handy man" who dares to question his authority. A certain captain once sent word that it was impossible to get his ship to such and such a ptoce on a given date. "TJmph," replied Sir John, " tell Captain Blank that if he is not ready to leave for X—on the day named, I'll have him towed i there." The late Queen Victoria once asked Sir John to be particularly nice ! to a noted French Admiral who was coming on a visit to England. " Ma'am," said Sir John, with his courtliest air, " I will kiss him if your Majesty desires it." When Lord Charles Beresford, who has just been decorated with the Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honour by President Fallieres, was commanding the naval brigade in the Soudan, his life was saved by a mule which fell dead on top of him before a rush of Arabs. The square quickly re-formed, and Lord Charles was rescued from his unenviable position. Glancing at (ho prostrate mule he remarked, as he brushed the dust from bis clothes: "Now, that was indeed a brotherly act!" ' Lord Charles has sat in Parliament on various occasions. At York, one evening, after having addressed a political gathering, a famous politician who had veered round on the Home Rule question approached him and said: "Admirable speech, IScresford; very good, in- ( deed. 1 didn't think you could do it. You don't look like a statesman." "Perhaps not," was the bluff sailor's retort; "no more do you look like a weathercock."

A country admirer once sent the following letter—allowing for orthographical errors in the original—to Lord Charles: "My household has been blessed with twiiis (a boy and a girl) this morning. My wife would like to name the girl after the Princess of Wales, and 1 want to name tho boy after you. May we do this? and can you obtain the Princess's permission for us to use her names';" The Admiral thought that the applicant desired to use the Christian names only, and in due course sent the Princess's permission, together wi'h his own. He then forgot all about the matter until, one fine morning, he was considerably astonished at receiving another letter from the same man to this effect: "My Lord,—l thought you would like to know that Lord Charles Beresford Brown is thriving, and has cut his first tooth. Princess of Wales Brown had convulsions last week, but is now very much better."