The Washington times., 1902-05-03
TALKS TO CADETS.
Mr.. Roosevelt Tells Them to Prepare for
War in Times of Peace.

President Roosevelt was introduced By
menced a short speech to the graduates
The President said in part:
I'm receiving these diplomas you be-
come men who, above almost any others
OF the entire Union, are to carry hence
forth the ever-present sense of response
bility which must come with the knowl-
edge that on some tremendous day it may
depend upon your courage, your prepared
ness, your keen intelligence and knowl-
edge of your profession whether or not
the nation Is again to write her name on
the worlds roll of honor or TO know the
black shame of defeat. We all of US.
earnestly hope that the occasion for war
may never come; but If 1t has to come,
then this nation must win; and the prime
factor in securing victory over any foreign
foe must OF necessity be the United States
Navy. If the navy fails us, then we are
doomed to defeat no matter what may
be our material wealth or the high aver
age of our citizenship. II should, there
fore, be an object Of prime Importance
for every patriotic American TO see that
the navy is constantly built up. and, above
ALL that il is kept to the highest point
of efficiency, both in material and in per-
Jonnel.
Preparation Half the Battle.
1T cannot be too often repeated that
10 modern war, and especially in modern
raval war, the chief factor in achieving
triumph is what has been done in the
way of thorough preparation and train
ing before the beginning of the war. IL
is what has been done before the OUT
break of war that is all-important. After
the outbreak all that can be done is TO
use TO the best advantage the great war
engines. and the seamanship. marksnan-
shi2 and general practical efficiency
which have already been provided by
the forethougbt of the national legisla-
tore and by the administrative ability,
through a course Of years, of the Navy
Department. a battleship cannot be
improvised. 1t takes years to build. and
the skill of the officers and crew in
handling IL Alright can likewise never be
iinproyised, but must spring from and
actual sea service. and from the most
careful. jealous and systematic training.
Must Make Ships and Guns.
You, to whom give these diplomas,
now Join the ranks of the officers OF the
United States Navy. You enter a glori-
Gus service, proud of its memories of re-
nown. You must keep ever in your minds
the thought Of the supreme hour which
may come when what you do Will forever
add to or detract from this renown. Some
Of YOU will have TO do your part in help
ing construct the ships and the guns
which you use. You need TO bend every
energy toward making these ships and
guns. in all their details. the most per-
eel OF their kind Throughout the world
The ship must be seaworthy, the arma-
ment fitted for the best protection TO
guns and men, the guns In all their mech
anism fl TO do the greatest possible ex-
ecution in the shortest possible time. Ev
cry detail whether of protection TO the
gun crews, of rapidly and surenes, in
handling the ammunition and working
the eIevating and revolving gear, or OF
1ulctpess and accuracy in sighting, must
BE- thought out far in advance, ana the
thought carefully executed In the actual
work.
Men Must Be Well Trained.
THE best ships and guns az the most |
costly mechanism are utterly valueless II I
the meN are not trained TO use them TO |
the utmost possible advantage. From now |
on throughouIA'our lives there can be no
slackness - your part. Your d"f~ wet
DC present with you. waking and sleeping. /