New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
DEWEY SPEAKS AT DINNER
AGREEABLY SURPRISED. HE SAYS. AT
THE INTEREST TAKEN IN THE NAVY

SPANISH RED AND YELLOW IN BANKS OF
TULIPS AT THE NAVAL ORDERS RE
UNION AT DELMONICO's.
Admiral George Dewey spoke for himself last
night at the annual dinner of the New-York
Commandery of the Naval Order of the United
States at Delmonico's, and he did II In charac
terestic fashion. It was all arranged that the
Rev. DIR. George Williamson Smith, the chaplain
of the order who was connected with the Naval
Academy when Admiral Dewey there
should respond to the toast Our Comma nder
the Admiral" after Admiral Dewey had merely
bowed his Acknowledgements. The toast was
given. and the old sea dogs sprang to their feet
and cheered themselves hoarse, waving napkins
and conducting themselves like first year cadets
AS soon he got chance Admiral Dewey said
Mr Nice-Commander and Comrades of the
New York C0mmandery Of the Naval Order of
the United States: ! thank you all most sin
cerey for the warm greeting extended me to-
night. and my gra titude takes in friends. as
well as old | am glad to be here tonight, and
to have an opportunity to mngle with comrades
or former days. Everything that has happened
since my return to this country from the active
scenes in the Philippines tends TO show that our
American people have high and lasting regard
for their Navy
The American Navy has entered upon era
in Its history which promises TO be even more
brilliant than its glorious record of the past
have been agreeably surprised to find much
interest manifested in the Navy, and especially
by the members of Congress.
AS an evidence of this. ! need only to cite the
hearing before the House Committee on Naval
Affairs, before which had the honor to appear
my suggestions apparently with the greatest in
terest. They listened to with much in
terest that believe that whatever l might have
asked for would have been agreed to-even to
the building of a dozen batteships.
The order under whose auspices gather to-
night Will prove of particular value in keeping
old comrades together and keeping alive the
memories of days gone by. | heartily appreciate
the honor conferred in making me your
commander, and l shall prize the recollection of
1t as long as live.
The Admirals speech delivered In good
voice, and afterward he congratulated by
some of his friends coming out as an after
dinner speaker
About one hundred and five members of the
society attended the dinner which was given in
the supper room the fourth floor The walls
were decorated with the National colors Back
of the great table hung the AdmiraTs flag
with three big white stars wide background
OF blue. On the guest table were three banks OF
red and yellow tulips, the coors representing the
spanish colors and the banks representing
Luzon' Cuba and Puerto Rico. On each bank
hoated small American flag. Admiral Dewey
commented the arrangement and signifi-
canoe of the tulips They were the idea Of Her
bert l.. Satterlee, chairman of the Dinner Com
mittee.
TROOPING OF THE COLORs.
After grace had been invoked bv the Rev DR.
Humphreys, the trooping of the colors was eff
fected by George Sanford Wye and color
guard, who marched down the centre aisle to
the guest table, and handed the colors to the
presiding officer. Vice Commander Cheney
The first toast The President of the
United States" which was drunk standing fol-
lowed by the selection Hail. Coumbia," Next
was the toast Our Commander the Admiral"
The Rev. DR.. George Williamson Smith was to
have responded to this. but as before stated
Admiral Dewey spoke for himself. Dr. Smith
followed the Admiral, and paid glowing tribute
to the graduates of Annapolis who had helped
to make American history glorious. He spoke
in terms of affectionate interest OF his expert
ences at the Naval Academy, and of his friend
ship for Admiral Dewey while there.
Our Old Navy responded to by Rear
Admiral Belknap who spoke OF the extraordi-
nary accomplishments of the wooden fighters
OF early days and the men they helped to de-
velop.
Captain H, c. Taylor, formerly of the Indiana
spoke of our New Navy" and as the chief
officer of of the Nations battleships in
actual war he received tlattering greeting
Captain Alfred T. Mahan's toast was Our
Navy in the Future" He said that he did not
care 10 risk prophecy to what the Navy in
the future might be. but he confident it
the difference between the old Navy, the
Navy and the Navy of the future practically all
looking
Of ships and regarded the Navy as an efficient
branch of the Government.
GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT PRESENT
Governor Roosevelt reached the supper room
at just II o'clock, in company with Lieutenant
Governor Woodruff. The diners rose and gave
him rousing reception.
He was escorted to the guest table and eated
beside Admiral Dewey The two shook hands
and Governor Roosevelt said among other
Things of he of tba
war was that the Nation ought to be preps red
for war at all times. there way of tell
ing when complications might arise. He as
serted that the possession by a nation of a first
class navy was the best safeguard of peace.
He said that personally he felt great pride
in having been connected with the naval branch
Of the service as Assistant Secretary of the
Navy, and it a genuine pleasure to meet
at the dinner many officials whom he had had
pleasant relations with when he was in Wash
ngton He said that the officials in command
of the ships at the time Of the war with Spain
were entitled 10 the credit of the highest eff
cheney, AMI this credit shared by the men
under them. The victories of two years ago
were not all the result of mere bravery, how
ever. They to be attributed in part to the
arduous drilling and preparatory work to which
the officers year after year. with war in pros
tinued effort resulting in high state Of dsci-
pline and efficiency when the trying hours came.
Iieutenant-Govern Woodruff responded to
the toast The Empire State" His reception
was like that given to Governor Roosevelt In
its heartiness. Mr.. Woodruff touched upon the
early history of the State. and then spoke briefly
of its tremendous Importance in trade and COM
nerce and finance at the present day
The Rev. DR.. Humphreys spoke entertainingly
of The Builders of the Navy
Present among Others at the dinner
Jarvis B Edison. II. A. Edison. Isaac Bromley
Lieutenant H. E. Ehoades. DR.. George H. Butler.
Jerome f. Morse Marshall T. Davidson. Civil
Engineer D. B. Macomb, Commander j. A. B.
Smith Captain John Lloyd, Captain J. w.
Sloan. Vanderbilt Nj