THE MAN WHO RUNS THE GERMAN NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 98, 22 May 1909, Page 3

THE MAN WHO RUNS THE GERMAN NAVY.

'' Although Admiral von Tiipitz is responsible for the enormous expansion '■ which has taken place in the German • Navy in recent years, the initiative i ■ sprang from the Emperor, who, shortly ' | after his accession, in 1888, planned the ' construction of the German licet. Four Naval Bills have since passed the Reichstag: ill 1808, in 1000, in 100(1. and in 1008. These Bills mark the stages of development from the time- when, in 1888, Germany possessed but twelve armored ships in all. In those years the Navy was regarded as an auxiliary force to the German Army. The accession of the Emperor William 11. changed all this. In the first twelve months of his reign he created a German Xav.v under its own Admiralty, and laid down four first-class battleships; but seven years were to pass before the national spirit was aroused in support of the 'lmperial plans. The interval was not

ill-spent, for an officer of distinct merit, Alfred Tirpitz. had forged his wav to the front and become, in 1801, Chief of Staff at the Kiel naval headquarters. TIRPITZ. Captain Tirpitz took up his duties al Kiel Station with a zeal that was inspired by the Emperor's own enthusiasm. Possessing unique powers of organisation, the advantage of youth, and the fruits of twenty-six years' sea service, the new C.S. O. soon reorganised the Kiel establishment. At first he devoted his energies to the creation of a tor-pedo-boat establishment and the privision of a torpedo school, where ollieei'.and men alike could be trained. Proceeding from this, he began to improve upon' the system of administration.

which was based upon a dual system of control lietwecn the Xavy Department at tlip capital and naval headquarters at Kiel. As Captain Tirpitz worked, political conditions were to .influence the successful realisation of his plans, for when the British (iovvrnment replied to the 'famous Krugcr telegram of 1800 by the despatch of a special service squadion, Cennan opinion received an objectlesson in the value of sea-power. The work which the. Kiel Chief of Staff had accomplished secured his promotion to the rank of Rear-Admiral, and in lSflti he was given command of the squadron m which Prince Henry of Prussia made his historic tour of the Far Kast. While Captain Tirpitz •was absent from home waters, the Herman Kmperor decided upon it more extensive naval policy, and at once recalled his energetic officer to become Secretary of State for the Admiralty.

THE FIRST AND SECOND NAVAL BILLS. Appointed to the supreme control of naval affairs in the autumn of 1897, early in 1808 Rear-Admiral Tirpitz piloted Germany's first Naval Act through the Reichstag. By this Bin the German fleet 'was to be increased within six years' to twenty first-class battleships, eight coast-defence 'battleships, twelve large cruisers, and twenty-nine small cruisers, in addition to a great increase in the strength of the torpedo-boat flotilla. Later in the year the Boer war broke out, while in' 1809 occurred the Bundesrat incident, when advantage was taken of German hostility to Great Britain to amend tfie Bill of' 1898 by the terms of the Supplementary Naval Act of 1900. The second measure, was more important than the first, and called for. in place of the original Bill, thirty-eight ibattleships of a more powerful class than those originally contemplated, fourteen first-class cruisers, thirty-eight second-class cruisers, and ninety-six tor-pedo-boat destroyers. It was stipulated in the provisions of the Bill that two battleships pc r annum were to be built. ; to be completed 'within three years. The passing of the Bill of 1000 secured for Rear-Admiral Tirpitz the honor of hereditary nobility, in the much-prized "von," while the successful launching o' the 13,000-ton Braunschweig, the firs l l of the big battleships, earned the promo- | tion of the Naval Secretary of State to : the rank of Admiral. THE INFLUENCE OF THE DREADI NOUGHT.

The advent of the Dreadnought in 1905 revolutionised not only the theory of naval construction in 'English Admiralty circles, but that ilield by German designers. Ten battleships of' the programme of 1900 had been completed when the Dreadnought was launched, and it 'was' at once decided to stop the work upon the previous lines and proceed at once with the new type of vessel. In 1900 the third German Naval Act was brought in. when under its terms two Dreadnoughts and one armored cruiser more .powerful than the British Indomitables wiMi twelve destroyers wore to be laid down annually until 1910. After public opinion bad been carefully educated by the German Navv League t< the necessities of yet a further increase in January. IPOS, a fourth Naval Rill, the fourth within ten years, was forced through the Reichstag.' The latest measure increased the construction programme to four monster ships—throe Dreadnoughts and one Indomitable--with two protected cruisers, or six capital ships a .car and twelve destroyers. This rate of construction WIH tl> ' ( . on . liniie until 1911. and the passing of the measure smired to Admiral von Tirpitz the award of the Order of the Black I'.aglc. A PORTRAIT.

The prime mover in the naval programme of Cerma.iy. Admiral von Tirpitz, is a iniui sixty years of age. with a r.iicn of a profes-or rather than that of ii, naval ollicer. |!ald. stout, and shortsighted, (but of gigantic stature, he is ,• credit to the administration of ids country and a .leinmi.u.\itio;i of the advantage of continue- of policy ami nonJiiterleicnce with th,. m au at the helm. A commoner by birth, he has forced himself to the Ironl by merit, and proved the .W'siioin ol tin- Kmjieror in goimoutside the clus restriction* which inlluence government appointments in Gerluiu.y.—M.AjP.