The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 19, 1920. A GREAT NAVAL REFORMER.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 19, 1920. A GREAT NAVAL REFORMER.

Whatever may be the verdict of history on Lie part played by the j British Navy in the great war, there is no room for two opinions on the effect of the Late Lord Fisher's policy in preparing the Navy for this great struggle. Admiral Fisher was certainly the most remarkable First Sea Lord of the Admiralty that ever held that high and important office; in fact, his whole distinguished career was characterised by an eruptive force that shattered all opposition. His administration of naval affairs marked the parting of the ways between the old hide-bound, red tape period of smugness and parade, and the substitution of up-to-date methods in which the prime object "was the highest efficiency of ships, gunnery and men. Moreover, he was one of those all too rare men who not only knew every detail of his, business a sure success, * but knew what lie wanted and iow to get it. His supreme

confidence in his own abili-j ties was never hidden from the public gaze, while he lacked not the courage unceasingly to assert that he was on the right track—no idle boast as events clearlyproved. Not even the most punditical naval expert can dispute that Lord Fisher's influence on modern naval architecture, development and gunnery was the main factor in the superiority "of the British Navy. To undertake import'ant naval reforms was, a task that well might have daunted any ordinary administrator, but Lord Fisher possessed the necessary knowledge, determination and dynamic force to take a lone hand and go straight ahead in spite of all obstacles-—a true specimen of the bulldog breed. The only naval traditions that appealed to him were duty and pbedience, his watchword being "efficiency," and the soundness of ■his methods was due to their being based on the best business lines. By his persistent rebellion againsi. ancient and worn-out methods; by constantly being on the watch for brains and brainy ideas; by encouraging efficiency and eliminating incompetence; by trampling down those who opposed his reforms or criticised his methods, Lord Fisher succeeded in creating a scientific navy, and acquired a well-merited reputation as 'the greatest constructive and creative seaman in naval annals. His service career before he went to ■ the Admiralty as First Sea Lord (on his own terms) in 1904, had been distinguished. He was then over sixty years ofcage, and his volanic methods had full play. The antagonism displayed towards this stalwart reformer only served as a stimulant to his policy—a complete revolution in naval affairs. Useless ships were scrapped; squadrons reduced in the outer seas; the main strength of the fleet transferred to the North Sea from the Mediterranean, he being confident that the next naval battleground would be the North Sea. Not only was this confidence justified, but, more remarkable still, his prediction made in 1905 that war would occur in 1914 was verified. By the introduction of dreadnoughts and battlecruisers the fighting value of the Navy was immensely increased. Having laid the foundations of a great modern navy, Lord Fisher left the Admiralty and assumed the post of Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, and put into practice the theories he had proclaimed, but in January, 1911, he retired from the Navy, only to be recalled when the day of supreme test arrived on the outbreak of the war in 1914. Having in his first term at the Admiralty evolved tho dreadnoughts, in his second regime he created the Renown and other remarkable ships—the fastest and most powerful fighting ships in the world. The Navy o ! ' to-day is essentially the offspring of Lord Fisher's creative genius. How greatly a man of his peculiar type was needed by Britain events have proved, and the Empire may justly honor the memory of this great naval reformer to whom it owes a lasting tribute of gratitude. Had Lord Roberts possessed the characteristics of Lord Fisher the British army would have been in a position to nip tl« war in the'bud. It is too mucli to expect that at any period there should be two such men as Lord Fisher. "We are thankful even for one.