LORD FISHER.
OUTSPOKEN DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.
What Admiral of the Flect Bir Hed- worth Moux called the bydra-headed in- triguo to bring back Lord Fisher to a responsible position at the Admiralty gave rise to some very outspoken com- ments in the House of Commons recently "I have never made any attack of
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, APRIL 19TH, 1917.
YOUNGER ADMIRALS.
HOW THE TREASURY THROTTLES THE NAVY:
·NAVAL·
[BY THE DAILY MAIL
CORRESPONDENT] The public every now and then lifts up its voice and asks why vigorous young officers of captain's rank who have ren dered brilliant service in the war are still only captains, and what kind of red tape
BRITISH BANKING SYSTEM, GERMANY AND MEXICO.
TWENTY YEARS OF MEAN INTRIGUE.
THE KEY TO THE FUTURE. At the annual meeting of shareholders
[BY ROBERT E. CAMPBELL.]- of the London City and Midland Bank; Sir Edward H. Holden, Bart, the Chair
The present disclosures with regard to man,
enid that to-day, the country stood phenon in the midst of a great coooosing with German intrigues in Mexico do not come as menon. The land was
Large profits were surprise to any student who has followed money and credit. greater than ever before; some were
Ever since those memorable days being made and earning and wages were the course of Gorman diplomacy in American spending freely others were saving. polities. The same conditions
a was one that
Lord Fisher except when one or another it is at the Admiralty that prevents their many, so that the questled in Gerlof the Spanish-American war, when the Ger
promotion.
of his indiscreet friends has brought the
The public little knows our British sys matter before the public," explained Sir Hedworth, calling attention to a speech by Mr. George Lambert last week, tem. Only a few weeks back I was discus Among other things Mr. Lambert said in
You that speech was that why Lord. Fisher sing this burning question with an officer was not popular was that fashionable on leave from the Grand Flect. society had no attractions for him and will find it," he said cheerily, rather that
fashionable ladies had no power over easier to prise the earth off its orbit than him. was very much surprised to to do what you suggest, which was to
secure the promotion of such men, road that," commented Sir Hedworth, “because until a few years ago, when cir- with that he departed north for his
across which made Lord dreary vigil at some unknown base cumstances Fisher unpopular, there was no man who was better received in what I may call He was asked to fashionable society. every dinner party, and whenever there was a dance he could be seen performing -from duchess downwards.
in
And
The great difficulty is created not by the Admiralty but by the Treasury It has put the Navy into a strait waistcoat, admirals in time of war than there were by ordaining that there must be no more ja rime of peace, So trday the number of admirals on the active list is one fewer than it was in 1914 before the war. To save some hundreds of pounds in ad mirals salaries, miserly oficialiom refuses to promote young, energetic, active off cers swiftly, and thus prolongs the war at the cost of £6,000,000 a day
It sounds incomprehensible, but it is
truc.
naval
And the chairman man attempt to impede Admiral Dewey at not down. thereapon spared no effort to elucidate Manila was countered by the British the reason and explanations for the exauthorities and it become clear to Germany
financial position which had traordinary arisen.
sen. He showed at some length how that Britain would stand by the United credit. During the first 30 months of war bankers were great manufacturers of States if any attempt were made by a Euro- joint stock banks had created £220,000,000 Germany has tried hard to provoke wir
American republics. the Bank of England and 19 of the largest pean Fower to infringe the Monave doctrine, of banking credit. The Government hor between the United States and the Latin: rowings during the same period had been more than £3,000,000,000, the chairman how the handling of the vast sums that stated, and he then proceeded to explain each new war loan issue represented, was carried out without any dislocation of the vast credit system.
He
At that time Germany saw an opportunity. Colombia while America was embroiled with of sizing Venezuela, Northern Brazil, and Spain both in Cuba and the Philippines. It the attempt being maile, and German policy received such a a setback that an entirely now ID was only the British attitude that prevented
German in diplomatic scheme had to be developed. order to favour the market for hatred that existed between the great- place of American goods, Teutonic dip lomacy fostered the elements of doubt and
American nations. northern republic and the smaller Latin
INSIDIOUS WORK. The United States was represented to the Power--the smaller nations as a predatory armed Colossus of the north. Whenever points of friction arose German diplomacy the trouble. Her whole attitude way that and organisation were contred an increasing thwart a lower with when a mischief-maker, and her whole design, was
COMPARISON WITH GERMANY." - Sir Edward then compared the war currencies of England and Germany, ex- amining in detail the constitution of the Reichsbank and showing how that Chancel establishment was under the virtual con trol of the Kaiser, through his lor Herr von Bethmann-Hollwegi depicted the efforts, and the success which had attended them, of the Reichsbank in maintaining the 334 per cent. gold cover to its nots circulation. Every statement of the Reichsbank since the war began, said Sir Edward, with the exception of the one under date of December 31st, 1910, when the percentage, fell tocial minimum of 331 He then described at to some length, the methods which the Ger- holding of the Reichsbank even to the mans had adopted of increasing the gold extent of forcing the people to declare the gold they possessed in the shape of ornaments and so forth. He pointed out Reichsbank increased from £53,000,000,
Stating that he would show how wrong it was to bring back Lord Fisher, Sir Hedworth recalled the Bacon letter in cident of eight years ago. Lord Beros ford and he (Bir Hedworth), then serving the Mediterranean, differed from Lord Fisher on some matter of policy, and Captain Bacon wrate home a letter re- flecting on them. Lord Fisher published the letter through his secrot press.
The Army is a living, expanding force The matter was raised in Parliament and the Admiralty replied that no part of the Promotion in its ranks is not choked by letter could be read as an allegation that red tape and Treasury formulas. Its list
an agitator.of generals grows indeed, grows so fast exhibited a percentage above the official Was le (Sir Hedworth) When Sir Hedworth heard of the matter that strange tales are told of such a he telegraphaed, home that if his honour plethora of generals in certain minor The Navy has almost was not put right the Admiralty might felds of the war that they have no one
The result was the Ad- to command. supersed him,
trohled its number of men and enormous miralty weat down on their knees to me.'
ly increased its total of ships. But it may not have more than the magic estab
MR. CHURCHILL,
to embarrass
man.
WILS
of
Al-
South American matters Germany she was nominally on the best of terins. Whenever friction arose about Central or
influence is one of the blackest chap ways to be found making the trouble worse. in the history of that distracted In the case of Mexico the record af Ger-
there at present, and that have German intrigue. It would appear as well as in Europe, that Germany prepared for war in the
ters
Coming to another epoch, the gallant Fishment of admirals which was consider how the loans and discounts of the country and the chaotic condition that admiral assorted that during the whole ed sufficient for the days of peace bir the war, to £311,000,000 at the end endured for the five years, are directly, brace-
is a blight on it.
*
That was perfectly well-known at the cannot do his work just as well with cap-reserve ratio to fall below the traditional Western Hemisphere her American policy
bad
of 1916, and the note circulation from able to ime that Mr. Churchill was First Lord
" more or less in Some people may ask why an officer £94,000,000 to £403,000,000, causing the of the Admiralty he was
and that the whole of the pocket of Lord Fisher." (Laughter.)
The chairman next turned his atten- since 1997 bas her onrefully designed to Admiralty, claimed Sir Hedworth sozitain's rank, and why it should be neces level of 33 per cent, cov ously, and think the results were ex-sary to promote him. The fact is, how- tremely unfortunate, because he soon ab ever, that the mere captain's opinion will tion to an analysis of Germany's methods embroil the United States with the Latin- almost invariably be overborne by some of raising her huge loans, describing the American republics whenever Germany Mexico was the danger spot, and it is in sorbed Lord Fisher's ideas of the proper old gentleman with white whiskers, not intensive propaganda by which her people chose to engage in a European war,
been induced to subscribe to no less way in which to treat officers."
by argument but by mere seniority The case of Admiral Bridgeman was Nelson, when a senior captain, once tried than £2,380,000,000 of Government paper Mexico that German intrigue gained its sue next referred to by Sir Hedworth Mox the experiment of telling an admiral, one and how the lessons learnt in each succes-
He was sive loan issue were utilized to the successes in pre-war days and has overreached
of the war. ss affording a curious instance of the Hotham, what ought to be done.
the periods over alterations made in the systemis
of promo- right, and naval history agrees that hecess of the next. The subscription lists itself in a hopeless failure in the third year
which installments.
might be paid were Mexican history of late years has been tion Under the regulations which exist was right. But he was dismissed-prac were kept open
The actual ad it was impossible for Prines Louis of Battenberg to become an Admiral of the
of events is fairly simple, President Flect unless two of the men senior to him and the old gentleman whom he strove the Government's intention to issue the the self-proclamation of divers self-styled i ran Mexico as a peaceful, prosperous
but he wh
was old, country for thirty years, devices of
ebatinate, and politically unprogressive. -
by revolution was
to instruct went on muddling.
next long; special facilities were giventa mostly bandita.
to take up
ag
If Treasury opposition to the promo-all subscribers and state employers dad were disqualified, and therefore this ridiculous regulation was brought in on
Make and Atook; the sly.**(** That is absolutely untruetion of additional admirals can be over-anal interrupted Mr. Churchill.) come, the present regulations for promo-been practically compelled t
ALLIED A suggestion by Mr Churchill that Birtion will need to be altered. For conan ato
like nature,
SORROWINGSRE
tury or fore, it has been the rule of the He then went marked liberal minded sortedly Madero, a wodern, Hedworth was actuated in the attitude bo Service to promote by especially rechange which the war had brought about doing well and was popular, but he was
4
18
tained by the Admiralty.
Army:
though
But in this
WAL
in 1911, Madero, became Fresident, rad Huerta, who, with the support of a small murdered in February 1913, by General gaug of worthless conspirators, seized the capital and proclaimed hit
hitself President.
CARGO OF RIFLES.
in the United States of America, point- case a captain must have done a certain
only found gold for providing the base term of service (four years in War), which ing out that the Entente Allies had not effectually prevents the swift advance of for the loans to themselves, but in addi- young men, such as is taking place in the ion had given the American banks power Supposing a certain number of to increase their domestic loans, as well
was recognised by Germany but as to make loans to other countries. He Huerta was extra promotions are sanctioned as they
estimated at £400,000,000 the total foreign not by the United States. President Wilen ought to be those promotions should be
by the United States of Ame refused to accent a self-elected murderer as loans made made by unlimited selection,
Everyone agrees that this is a young rica since the war began, £423,000,000 of head of the neighbouring republic. In order
the Entente by man's war. The changes at sea have been which had been borrowed
He next explained the Federal to stir things up and strengthen Huerta's
possibilities
of causing trouble the Germans and machine gun to rifles so tremendous that we want alert, fresh Allies. minds in control, It has been said by reserve banking system and how it was sent a cargo of Bir Cypriani Bridge that it is Boubtful that by pooling their gold the Allies had Var Cruz, and thereapon the United States whether any male human being over forty been able to establish a stable rate of seized the port of Vera Cruz instead of the was ever converted to a new faith of any exchange between Europe and America German ship The step was fruitless, as it The neglect of the air services He calculated that they had sent did not bring Mexico to her senses, and the Huerta's power declined, and the whole before the war and the failure to use them £215,000,000 of gold to New York since aros were delivered at another port country was too far, torn by revolution to efficiently in the first months of the war the war began
combine against the United States, so un servatism. are standing examples of excessive con-
the coast
kind.
ng, Sir Ed Turning to English banking, ward said that if they were able to main tain their banks: in, as liquid a state is
plea
scheme had failed..
184]
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took up by personal dislike for Lord the right to select mon is Fisher was dealt with in clinracteristic fashion: Only a month before. the war I was at a garden party in this town. It was full of very fashionable people. And chero was Lord Fisher walking about dis-
I said to myself, consolately! the man who used to be so petted--nobody So I taking ay notice of him now.
Come here, you called it to him, wigold sinner, I want to shake hands And You (Roars of laughter.) bok hands. And the right hon. gen- (Mr. Churchill) thanked me 1 afterwards for having done The it enabled him to bring Lord Fisher to Portsmouth, where Lord Fisher Does that always refused to come. ad like batred " reaking off from the personal side for moment, Sir Hedworth. Menx recalled
July 15, 1914, Huerta resigned and fled to GRASSHOPPER tatement that Lord Fisher and always
the present they would succeed in the d. the submarine danger in view, and ked if that was so why it took three.
future not only in reestablishing home He was visited at Puerto Mexico by onths to press on the attention of the
Aindustries, but in protecting and develop Captain Kohler, of the German cruiser dmiralty the scheme of Lieutenant measures taken by, Lord Fisher. ferney, which was now being carried out gigantic effort was necessary if the preing foreign trade to a greater extent thin Deden since sunk off the Chilisn and had had millions spent on it. sent submarine menace was to be met before. He considered it unwise to pre-cast. The German captain played Ger- He recalled the case of Admiral Hood, adequately. It was contrary to the facts vent foreign banks opening branches in many's last card with Huerta. He offered who was commanding at Dover. It was to say that Lord Fisher and the scientists England provided they conformed to the use of his ship, not only for light, known to the small clique that Lord associated with him on the Inventions English banking laws. He advocated but for any use be cared to make of its Fisher always has around him that Ad- Board had adequate powers to deal with that concessions be made to English banks Horta did not see his way to use the miral Hood was going to be turned out, German submarines, He could not help secking to establish themselves in foreign weapon, and retired into exile in the Uniteri and he was turned out at not more than believing the Admiralty had not taken countries, similar to those made to States. For the moment the German Lord Fisher and his Board into their con- foreign banks establishing themselves, in 24 hours' notice. But the admiral never
Sir Edward then made a strong knew why he went nor did his wife. Ifidence and that this was one of the rea London
sons why the sulmuarine menace had that the proper way for officers to be treated? It is that kind of thing which grown to its present tremendous propor for the adoption of the metric system in went on for 12 years under Lord Fisher's ions. Lord Fisher was an authority on England, together with a decimal mone régime, which the Navy is determined dealing with submarines, and he hoped tary system.
the Admiralty would make use of his ser shall never come back again. What are vices. It was wasting the talents and
These the meanings of those intrigues?
energies of a great man to keep him in intrigues are trying to bring back people charge of a chemist's shop who have failed in the past, who have
Commander Bellairs said it had been been tried and found wanting, and if thera
one way of losing the war that industriously put about that Lord Fisher
THE FINAL THROW AWAN. is the most certain way. There is one had a plan. It he had a plan it was his further reason why Lord Fisher should duty as chairman of the Committee of
When
In desperation the Germans have tried not come back,
Dr. Müller mentioned the Royalty.
Note from on scheme, and honest men Admiralty It must be obvious that if Mr. Churchill fell on Lord Fisher and Inventions to submit. that plan to the with Dr. Hans Müller, the poet of
Secretary came in (laughter) how did Lord Lord Fisher was imposed on the Ad- Kaiser's letter to the German Imperial their latest - Fisher leave his job? Did he wait to be miralty the present First Lord would go Chancellor in which he justified the peace Zimmermann, the Foreign panould relieved? Did he wait to hand over to out as well as Sir John Jellicoe, who offer of the Central Powers. The Kaiser suggesting that Mexico and Japa
to have Lord Fisher replied:
form an offensive alliance against the United would even him by n demand in this letter had to be written, the step States; There would be no reason to doubt forced upon
sce it is the House and in the Press. We owed to had to be taken. Now the entire world the authenticity of the plot, even if the Lord Fisher the oil-fuel ships and tur-knows who are they who impose further Germans had not admitted it, since
Day 8%. George's bines. He had ahone as a materialist,
gotten that the Entente protects the wur- the Americas. Its absolute failure is just as
·9.15· certain, for neither Carranze For Japan
5pm-“Scenes from Shakespeare the Francis of the Archduke derers
to listen to it for a moment, Its "Wall," said Sir Redworth, "if he and on that count alone ho was entitled torture on mankind. Is it already for logical outcome of years of German policy in Monday, 23rd April:-
would deign
Theatre Roval
25th April had been a sailor or a soldier he would to the gratitude of the country.
But he had also made great mistakes. Ferdinand? When I to-day Baw the
Scenes from Shakespeare" at the have been shot," he explained. "This is
Petra Boral, in aid of War Charities. the man my, hon friends below (indicat and they were bound to take notice of Chamberlain of my late friend, it was peculiar value to the Allies is that its ex-
It throws the German Governmense, and Thursday Union Insuranés-Society of Canton, ing the Opposition front bench) are try them when the demand for his recall was again strongly impressed on me that front posure will for ever discredit German cipio His reputation depended the beginning the shadow of crime has macy among the Latin American nations for ing to bring back, and it is about time put forward.
Ltd Ordinary
ary Yearly Meeting. that it ceased. We have had enough of on one of his greatest mistakes. He been hanging over our enemies no repredatory, devoid of moral sense, and mant utterly contemptuous of the rights of a great number of foreign dock-side are right and morality, and to make (Choers.)
scrapped it in the Navy
China Fire Laurance Co., Ltd., 12.80 p yards and he scrapped 150 ships in 1004. these triumph every clean weapon must
be welcome to use
Ordinary Yearly Meeting Every one of those ships not broken
12:45 p.m.--British Traders' Insurance Co. Mr. George Lambert replied to this that the Admiralty, could lay their hands Look only at Europesa neutrals. This blundering interference is in essenes speech by stating that many unjustifiable on was commissioned when war occurred Read the Swedish reply. It is a docu-s blow at the Monros doctrine an under
inment which is written as if for eternity handed stab at that permosent policy ontd. Ordinary Yearly Meeting That was Fisher, and asserted that Bir Hedworth overy part of the world. Mens was actuated by personal animus years after they were pronounced to be estimate our strength, but also our will sphere are based. Nothing could bring more.15 pm Lord Fisher, he said, was the man to useless! And every one of the foreign for peace. For the first time, in a certain clearly into prominence the fact that in Theatre Royal, in aid of War Charities,
Germany's latest
Noon-Canton Insurance Office, Ltd, Most-
ing of Bhareholders cope with the submarine meniacs He dockyards had been revived. Sir John sense, the declared will of small States fighting Germany the Allies are fighting Thursday, 3rd May co
Saturday, St-Maybe a k
Co., Ltd tuoted from the report of Lord Milner's Jellicoe was now the pilot at the Ad 18 against the Anglo-Saxon world for the
Roma Hongkong Electrio to and was only fair Continentni a challenge, not only the Unitel
Ordinary General Meeting. peril was well in hand in 1915 and con- we should not come forward in time House phantom, becomes a reality which bits States, but to all the nations of America
now-Reuter. tended that this was due to the energetic with proposals to substitute another man England harder than anything up till Daily Esprit,
(Continued at foot of next column,) for him. (Cheers.)
his successor ! No, he deserted like
Bir Hedworth hesitated for fraction of a second and then snapped
Oh! oh! out the word "Traitor." protested members mildly.
DEFENCE OF LORD FISHKE
Huerta was succeeded by three claimants
was a bandit who had seized Mexico City; Zapata, Villa, and Carranza, Villa was a
Carranza wasthe only moderately decent man handit who held Northern Mexico; Zapata
of the three. A conference was held be- tween the United States and the repre KAISER'S NEW WAR-CRY.
sentatives of all the South American repub WORLD., and Carranza was appointed President AGAINST ANGLO-SAXON
of Mexico an August 12, 1914. In 1916 he Telegrams from Vienna to the Berlin was recognised by all the European nation, newspapers give an account of a conversa including Germany, and he is still President. tion which the Kaiser had at the Hofburg
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