New-York tribune., 1902-08-07
PRESIDENT AT MANGUFRES
HE TAKES AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN
CONTEST on THE MAYFLoWER-
IN COMMUNICATION WITH SECRETARY
MOODY IN REGARD TO OFF FEhl1@
PRIZES FOR GUN POINTING

the ship executed were precisely lhose Nh'N44
might have TO be gone through in an active
hattie the substantial difference being that the
eremy to-day was an inanimate target ana Ho'
active. aggressive and alert
The gun practice Of the crew Of the Mayfower
indicates that the men behind the guns on board
American war vessels are even more efficient and
accurate than they at Manila Bay or on
Santiago The Spanish people learned the lesson
that American bluejackets shoot straight ana
shoot TO hit. The Spanish-American War demon
strated the fact that the United states Navy
contained fine marksmen. and the presence
aboard the Mayiower to-day Of President
Roosevelt was evidence of his desire personally
and by every means in his power to
foster and improve this important branch Of
the work Of the navy. To this end it is
the purpose Of the President to urge the neces-
sitv OF continued target practice by the crews
of American warships II is his intention that
The Mayfower, which is really a formidable
Narship of the cruiser type. and not at all a
mere pleasure yacht, may be employed as
unit of naval target practice If new system
of gun pointing should be devised. II Is the
hope OF the President that it may be brought
TO its highest development on the Mayfower
and in the American navy generally. The Presi-
dent is desirous that the United States navy
shoot as well as any navy in the world. and he
hopes 10 use the NayfloweT 10 assist in bringing
about this result. He manifested the keenest
interest in the work of the day, with zest and
earnestness born of enthusiasm, watching with
marine glasses the result of every shot fired.
YOU DID WELL-ENCELLENTLY
After witnessing the work Of the crew of No
Q gun the winners Of the contest, he went per-
sonally to the gun pointer, w J. ODonneH'
and, shaking his hand cordially, said:
You did well-exceently."
oel
his forelock and really appeared as if he
wished he had not done such fine work
The shooting Of the winning crew was excel
lent At an average range of 1.5oo yards it
made so per cent of hits. 1t fired twenty shots
and made sixteen hits. two of them being actual
bulTs-eyes They were the envy of the entire
crew.
At~the close of the target practice the crew
was assembled on the quarter deck to witness
the presentation of the prizes offered by the
President. Briefly, Mr.. Roosevelt addressed the
officers and men as follows:
1 wish to say a word TO all the officers and
enlisted men of my qualification at the show
YOU have made to-day. 1 hope this viii be but
the beginning Of q practice which VIII make the
Mayfower stand the crack gunship OF the
navy. One or of the gun crews had hard
luck, notably the marines of the port 1-pounder
the gun which fired twenty-eight shots. The
target drifted. and that makes the record no
fair test as regards that crew am pleased
next time to a material improvement Some
of the crews show the need of it,
Now just one word to the enlisted men and
the sailors. both to the men behind the guns and
TO those in the engine room, for without the
men in the engine room the men at the guns can
do nothing.
II is credit to the navy as a whole when the
crew of a single ship does we'll Every man
who does we'll reflects credit upon the navy;
every man who does badly reflects discredlt
uDon il. l know I count upon all on poaru
this shin as upon all on board all other ships
Sr no n2R
do his duty as TO reflect credit upon the navy
as whole l should like, now. TO see the
winning crew.
MICH PLEASED WITH THE WORK
When the four men comprising the crew-W.
J. O'DonneH, gun pointer; F. Crowley, G. c.
Grimm and A. w. Hildebrand-had stepped for
ward by order of Lieutenant w. W. Phelps. the
executive officer the President. addressing them,
said:
am very much pleased with the work you
have done to-day and 1 want TO say that If
you keep up this record it will be difficult to
find a better 6- -pounder crew in the navy. In
the training OF hrst class gun pointers Is lne
solution of the problem of obtaining the high
est efficiency of the navy
The President then shook hands with the
members of the successful crew, and. as he did
so. pressed 81 bin into the palm Of each, but
giving so to the gun pointer
Referring later TO his giving OF prizes 10 the
successful gun crew, the President announced
tary Of the Navy regarding the offering of
prizes for special excellence in gun pointing
He believes there is better way to improve
the craftsmanship of naval gunners than to ex-
cite among them friendly emulation. The Presi-
dent, after giving the prizes, then called the
petty officers Of the ship about him, and in
brief talk impressed upon them the Importance
OF performing their duties well
1T may rest with you men some time" he
said 10 them, whether honor shame shall
come 10 our country.
He told them of the peculiar interest he felt
IN the warrant officers Of the navy and
sured them that they should always have his
cordial support and cooperation in making Of
the United States Navy the best IN the world.
PROOF OF THE PRESIDENTS INTEREST.
That President Roosevelt's interest in the
petty officers is not only sincere. but practical
was shown by incident to-day. Lewis Poes-
sci is serving as pay yeoman on the Mayfower.
He enlisted in the navy in 1886, and has served
continuously since. BY his integrity he Won his
way, until at the outbreak of the Spanish war
he was commissioned as an assistant pay
master in the volunteer service AS such he
served nine months and then was discharged
He re-enlisted Immediately. but the Controller
Of The Treasury recently decided that Poessel
was not entitled to wear the stripes denotng
continuous service. and could not receive the
additional pay which by law attached TO long
service The President regards this as an act
practically penalizing Poessel for his ability
and excellent service. and has directed Lieu
tenant Commander Gleaves commanding the
Mayiower. 10 make a special report to him per
sona1ly upon the case, with view to taking ac-
tion upon il.
HOW THE TRIP WAS MADE.
Accompanied by Mrs. Roosevelt. the President
boarded the naval yacht sylph off Sycamore
Hill late yesterday afternoon. The sylph arrived
in Block Island Sound al 10 p. m. and came TO
anchor In the morning at o'clock she steamed
up TO the Mayfower lying near The weather
was thick and the clouds We're dark and for
bidding. As soon as the Mayfower recognized
the Presidents blue. green and gold pennant