Evening star., 1902-08-07

matters in which he is interested Others
present were Gen. James s. C1arkson Of
Iowa, Representatives James S. Sherman
and Lucien N. Littauer of New York and
former State Senator John Laughlin of
Buffalo.
WITNESSED BY THE PRESIDENT.
On the Mayfower Participated in
Mimic Warfare.
President Roosevelt yesterday partici-
pated on board the Mayfiower In mimic
warfare. The maneuvers which the ship
executed were precisely those which might
have to be gone through in an active bat
tie.
The gun practice Of the crew Of the May
flower indicates that the men behind the
guns on board American war vessels are
even more efficient and accurate than they
were at the memorable battle of Manila
bay or at the decisive victory achieved by
the American fleet off Santiago The His
pano-American war demonstrated the fact
that the United States navy contained fine
marksmen and the presence aboard the
Mayfiower of President Roosevelt was evil
dence of his desire personally and by every.
means in his power to foster and improve
this important branch Gdf the work of the
navy. To this en6it isthe purpose of the
President to urge stheo necessity of con-
American warships J
After witnessingfthei Iwork of the crew
OF No. 9 gun-the swinnhrs of the contest
he went personality totthe gun pointer W.
j. O. Donnell. and shaking his hand cordial
ly. said: You did wel-exceIlenty." In
an embarrassed manpep ODonnell touched
his forelock and AalN iappeared as if he
The shooting of the winning gun crew
was phenomenally good. At an average of
l,5eo yards they nIade5fS per cent of hits.
They Tired twenty shots and made sixteen
hits two of thems heigg actual bull s-eyes.
They were the envfed Of the entire crew.
AT the concluSion-af the target practice
the crew was assembled on the quarter
deck to witness atdaec presentation OF the
prizes offered by the President.
The PresitHfeAhitts Address.
Briefly President Roosevelt addressed the
officers and men as follows:
Il wish to say a word to all the officers
and the enlisted men of my qualification of
the show you have made today 1 hope
this will be but the beginning of practice
which will make the Mayfower stand as
the crack gun ship of the navy. One or
Two OF the gun crews had hard luck, nota-
bly the marines Of the port one-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 with the showing you have
MADE ana expect next time to see ma
terial 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 gun and to those in the
| engine room for without the men in the
engine room the men at the guns can do
| nothing.
1T is credit to the navy as a whole
where the crew of single ship does well.
Every man who does well reflects credit
upon the navy; every man who does badly
count upon all on board this ship, as upon
all on board all other ships In the navy.
expect that each man so will do his duty
as to reflect credit upon the navy as
whole I should like now to see the win
ming crew."
When the four men comprising the crew
". J. ODonnell, gun pointer; F. Crowley,
IT, Z. Grimm and A. w. Hildebrand-had
stepped forward by order of Lieut.. w. w.
Phelps, the executive officer, the President,
addressing them. said: Il am very much
pleased with the work you have done to-
this record 1t will be difficult to find a bet
ter six-pounder crew In the navy. In the
framing framing OF hrst-class gun pointers Is the
solution Of the problem of obtaining the
nlgnest enciency of the navy.
Donation Of Prizes.
The President then shook hands with the
| members Of the successful crew, and as he
did so pressed a f1ve-dollar bill into the
palm OF each. but giving $50 to the gun
pointer, ODonnelI.
Advertng later to his giving prizes to the
successful crew. the President announced
lhat ne was In correspondence with the
Secretary of the Navy In the matter Of
Offering prizes for special excellence in gun
pointing. He believes that there Is no bet
ter way to improve the craftsmanship of
naval gunners than to excite among them
friendly emulation. The President after
giving the prizes then called the petty OH.
talk impressed upon them the Importance
of performing well their duties.
1T may rest with you men some time"
he said to them, whether honor or shame
shall come to our oountry." He told them
the peculiar interest he felt In the petty
officers of the navy antf8a ssured them that
they should have always his cordial sup
port and cooperation Id making the United
States navy the best ]insthe world.
That President Raoseyelt's interest In the
petty officers is net only sincere but prac-
teal was evidenced by aan incident. Lewis
SfIe ae essted as Raas IN the nauy in IN 1885
and has served continuously since. By his
integrity he won hs1way until at the out
Dreak OF the Spanish whr he was comrnis-
stoned as an assistanto paymaster in the
volunteer service.D As sHch he served nine
months and then s-discharged: He re.
ehiisted EN- immediats bHt the controller cont OF
was not entitled toIweaf the stripes denot-
Ing continuous seHVice tand could not be
given the additional pay. which by law at
tached to. long service. The PRESIDENT re-
CARDS this an act practically penalizing
Poessel for his ability and excellent service
and has directed Lieutenant Commander
Gleaves. commanding the Mayhower, to
make a special report to him personally
upon the case with view to taking action
upon it.
The Trip From Oyster Bay.
Accompanied by Mrs. Roosevelt the Presi-
dent boarded the naval yacht Sylph of
Sycamore Hill late Tuesday afternoon. The
Sylph arrived in Block Island Sound at 10
o'clock that night and came to anchor. Yes
terday at o'clock she steamed up to the
Mayflower, lying near. The weather was
thick and the clouds were dark and forbid
the Presidents blue. green and gold PEN
nant she roared out a salute of twenty-one
guns. few minutes later President
Roosevelt, leayin1 Mrs. Roosevelt on the