OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 9

OBITUARY

ADMIRAL YON TIRPITZ

FOUNDER OF GERMAN NAVY

FIGUKE IN WAE TIM?

United Press Association—By Electric Telegrapb—Copyright. (Received 7th March, 11 a.m.) MUNICH, 6th March. Tho death is announced of Admiral yon Tirpitz, founder of the' modern German Navy and a prominent figuro in wartime, at the ago of 81. Admiral yon Tirpitz recently suffered from failing memory. He lived unobtrusively in a small house at Lake Stamburg. A few days ago he had a sharp attack of bronchitis. Ho died in hospital. ■ ';

The late Admiral, yon Tirpitz was bom on 19th March, 1849, at Kustrin, and was a son of a high Prussian Magistrate-, and a descendant of a .noble family impoverished by the Thirty Tears' War. As a boy lie was quick, daring, and enterprising. He was very capable, but did very bady at school. In later years he filled the gaps in his education by industrious private study in languages, history, and i economics, and by keen observation during his foreign travels. In 1865 lie entered the Prussian Navy, the training for which followed the British model. In 1869 he became an officer, in 1888 post-captain; in 1895 rear-admiral, in 1899 vice-admiral; in 1903 admiral, and in 1911 Admiral of the Fleet. In 1897 he became Secretary of State for Naval Affairs, and then, to his regret, had no further chance of practical service at sea. On 15th March, 1916, for political reasons, he resigned all his offices. ■ HELD IMPORTANT POSITIONS. Whilst still a young officer his talents were rccognisod and suitably employed by the loaders of the German Fleet, General yon Stosch and General yon Caprivi, and lie received exceptional promotion. General yon Stosch taught him the need of increasing overpopulated Germany's economic and industrial activity, the importance of trade and colonies, tho necessity of. protecting these interests ' and making the shipbuilding industry quite independent of foreign help. Hisx creative talents were first utilised when torpedoes developed into an ami suitable- for war, in building toredo boats and in working out a tactical system for their mass • employment. His work during this period proved of great value- to him later when constructing a fleet of battleships. _In constructing this fleet, he accomplished model work with a minimum of expense. After practical service at sea as captain, he became Chief of Staff of the Supreme Naval Command in 1892, and began the preliminary work for his plan of fleet construction by profound studies in tho history and practice of naval warfare. ' As a statesman, Tirpitz pursued the political aim of securing the growing marine interests of the German people, which ,had become a great exporting and importing industrial state. For this reason he felt the building of a fleet to bo a necessity and no luxury, since it made' Germany a more acceptable ally and helped to create a sort of balance of power at sea. ..A POPULAR MAN.' . Up to the outbreak of the war, Tirpitz enjoyed a steadily increasing popularity in Parliament and with the people. The feelings of German nationality and unity and manly pride in German strength and deeds were encouraged byi him. The circle of his real co-workers and colleagues was, however, always small. He was a good judge of men and exploited the special talents of his subordinates ruthlessly. He himself always retained his wide general view and never lost himself m details. ! PART PLAYED IN WAR. The part assigned to yon Tirpitz_ in the war was unworthy of his abilities. At the beginning he offered to take over tho entire control of the navy, including the military control, but this was refused. His position at general headquarters was unsatisfactory; his advice was hardly listened to by the politicians and hardly ever taken. The naval battle for which he wished was never fought. He early recognised the importance of the new U-boats for the issue of the war, but was against employing U-boats too early in the commercial war, and named the spring of 1916 as the right moment. ' He disapproved of the attitude of the German Government during the exchange of Notes with America on the occasion of the sinking of the Lusitania and the Susses, regarding it as weak. After leaving his post in 1916, Tirpitz entered politics and helped to found the Vaterlandspartei, which propagated the will to endure; and after the war had ruined his life's work, he entered the Eeichstag in 1921 as German National Deputy. He generally remained in the background in plenary sittings, but owing to his great experience he played an influential part behind the scenes. Tirpitz was not a courtier and found recreation in Saint Blasien in the Black F,orest, where he possessed a country-house. Four children, two sons and two daughters, were the fruit of his very happy and harmonious marriage with Marie Lipke, who was also his confidante and assistant in his work. His eldest son, a naval office* on the cruiser Mainz, was taken prisoner by the British on 28th August, 1914.