The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-06-19
AMERICA AS AN ENEMY
Assistant Secretary Hackett Says
Navy is the Nations Bulwark.
Theme of His Address at Opening o.
Naval War College Is Necessity OF
Thorough Preparation For War.

Newport, R. 1.-The Naval war Col'
lege was formally opened for the sea-
son of 1901, the opening address being
made by Frank W. Hackett. Assistant
Secretary of the Navy. Mr.. Hackett
began his address by a delightful ref
erence to Rear-Admiral Luce. whose
Iabors resulted in the founding Of the
college.
In prescribing a plan in the nature
of O curriculum" said Mr.. Hackett,
"the college has kept in view QUE car
dinal roposition-success in war lies
In preparation. Being ready signifies
something beyond the ability to get
your ships, guns and men at the place
YOU want them the very hour yo!3
want them; it means the presence on
board of q master mind that knows
how - use this force to the highest
advantage, the one man who can get
out Of it the greatest power where
with to defeat and crush the enemy.
A master mind does not find its way
to supreme command haphazard.
Training and hard thinking bring 1t
about. To have such q captain close
at hand, this Is preparation, this Is
what it is to be ready. Only let us be
prepared, the world takes notice, and
here we get one of the very few con-
ditions upon which q government can
rely for conserving peace.
"The American people cherish good
will toward all other Powers, and
value a like good will IN return. But
we perfectly comprehend of what vi
tai moment it Is that every other Pow
er be impressed at all times with a
wholesome dread Of having the United
States as an enemy. To this end.
peace loving as we are, we have an
nounced it to be our settled policy to
maintain a powerfully equipped navy.
"The people mean that in ships and
guns the United States shall hold Its
rightful position. They never Will tol.
crate that our seagoing force shall fall
into an inferior rank among the navies
of the world. The largest measure OF
safety, they firmly believe, rests with
that country whose naval authorities
can put the better brain upon the
bridge"
Speaking Of the value Of the war
College methods Mr.. Hackett said:
"The sinking of Cervera's fleet was
not the execution Of a plan sud-
denly inspired. On the contrary. that
memorable July forenoon saw wrought
out that which, for it's beginnings at
least, were rehearsed, so to speak, in
these very halls. An incident that oc-
Cured not long after the close Of the
war serves to illustrate my meaning.
Rear-Admiral Sampson, happening to
be here, saw suspended on the wall q
large chart of the Cuban coast. 1t bore
certain marks that denoted the move
ments Of war vessels. The Admiral
took it to be q chart that had recently
been prepared for the purpose OF Illus
trating certain features of the Span
ish war. It turned out, as a matter OF
fact, that he was looking at working
model that had been put to use -Wo
years before the war In the study or
an imaginary campaign against Spain.
$50, too, the contingency Of scouting
in the West Indian waters during sup
posed hostilities with Spain had not
been neglected. For the purpose two
rooms were occupied. An officer in
each room represented a contending
force. Each did the best he could to
fix the whereabouts Of his opponent
On a signal work was stopped and the
officers compared results"
In conclusion, MI. Hackett said:
"The United States, in enlarging Its
borders and taking to itself foreign
possessions, has indeed assumed a
grave responsibility. Upon the people
of these distant lands we are confer.
ring the blessings of good government.
For their protection and welfare we
shall continue to look in large meas.
'ure to the navy. Nor shall we be dis
appointed."