"BLINDED."

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 9, 10 January 1920, Page 6

"BLINDED."

Lord Fisher, on the Fleet of the future :

"It is said of the Jews that 'their eyes are blinded to this day' to what is, to us Christians, so transparent and sure a truth. That can be said of the politicians, Parliament, and the public. It's as clear as daylight that future war at sea absolutely precludes the use 'of any vessel of war that can't go under the water, because aircraft will compel it. So why keep any of the present lot? Not only that, hut you've got also to scrap all the admirals and superior officers, because they won't do for the new job! Put them all in some museum —like Greenwich Hospital (keep the submarines and company). All you want is the present naval side of the •Air Force—that's the future NavyOnly costing a few millions! "But what is one to say of the Army Estimates being over four hundred millions sterling one year after the most devastating armistice the world ever heard of? (Are we at war? Who with?) The Navy Estimates the year we built the Dreadnought and had war in sight with Germany for certain were only 38 millions!

"Four hundred and five millions now for the Army—3s millions then for the Navy! What a contrast! Is the whole nation blinded, like the Jews? "And yet 'the Articles of War,' which •were read by the captain in old days fwhen I first came to sea) every Sabbath Day in the Navy, had this preamble in the Act of Parliament: 'It is upon the Navy whereon, under the good Providence of God, the wealth, peace, and safety of this kingdom doth chiefly depend' (or words to that^ effect.)"