Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-05
ARE
+ GIVEN THE
MIDDIES
ROOSEVELT CONFERS THE DE-
GREES AT ANNAPOLIS WITH
A FERVENT SPEECH TO THE
NAVAL GRADUATING CLASS.

ANNAPOLIS. Nd, Nay 2-Ihe special
Erain conveying President Roosevelt ana
party 20 Annapolis 20 attend the GRADUATE
ms exercises al the naval academy, ar
tved here az SIS o'clock over the Penn
sylvanla railroad.
AS the president aiighted from the
Erain he was received by Superintendent
Fainrfxht and hts aide. Lieutenant H J.
siegemier. A battalion Of marines under
command OF Captain Lucas was drawn up
kt the station
The Marty proceeded in carriages 20 the
academy grounds. the president going d.
rectly TO the superiHtendents house,
where there was a short wait 10 permit
he assembling OF the cadet battalion al
ne chapel
The president walked across the campus
d where the cadets were lined up ana
ussing down the line looked each caoet
quarely in the face
ne academy By Commander Wainwright
While this was going on the shore bait
cries fred the presidents salute OF q
guns.
AT the sound Of bugle blast. the cadets
BACKED guns and marched BY fours 70
ne chapel where benediction was pro-
bounced by the chaplain In the mean
line the president. escorted by COmman-
Ter wainwright. was shown to his seat on
Commander Wsfnwright then intro
luced Dr.. George T.. Winston. a member
IL the board OF visitors. who delivered
hort address in which he spoke OF the
havy as being the most important factor
N the -countryss history. He was loudly
pplaudsd when he referred 10 Dewey as
he hero OF Manila and Sampson the hero
bf Santiago. and at the conclusion OF his
remarks was congratulated by the presi-
lent.
A great crowd gathered around the
Erand stand where the cadets were TO re
neive at the hands OF the president the
diplomas which would make them officers
n the United States navy
President Roosevelt then addressed the
graduating class. His address follows:
IN receiving these diplomas you become
men. who above almost any others OF the
hntire Union. are 70 carry henceforth the
sver-present sense OF responsibility, which
must come with the knowledge that on
some tremendous day, IL may depend upon
rour courage. your. preparedness. your
keen intelligence and knowledge OF your
profession whether. or not the nation IS
gain to write her name on the worlds roll
bf honor OF 10 know the black shame OF
iefeat
I'VE all OF US earnestly hope that occa-
si0n for war may never come, but tilt has
10 come. then this nation must win; and
..uE prime factor EEG4AAAA hAAAWA4 0NNA
any foreign foe must OF necessity be the
United States navy. II the navy fail US,
hen we are doomed TO defeat. no matter
what may be- material wealth OF the
lig-rf-EweraEe OF our citizenship. II should.
therefore,. be an object Of prime import
ance for every patriotic American 70 see
#Ihat the navy Is constantly built up and
above all that II is kept 70 the highest
point OF efficiency. both in material and in
personnel
1T cannot be too often repeated that in
modern war and especially in modern ma
ral war, the chief factor In achieving tri-
#nmph Is what has been done in the way
nf thorough preparations and training be-
rore the beginning OF the war. II is what
has been done before the outbreak OF war
that Il all important After the outbreak,
hll that can be done IS 10 use 10 the best
advantage the great war engines. and the
seananship. craftsmanship and general
practical efficiency, which have already
been provided BY the fOrethought OF the
national legislature and by the admins
traffve ability through a course OF years,
BIZ the navy department
a battleship cannot be improvised. II
takes years TO build. and the skill OF the
Ddicers and crew in handling IL Alright can
likewise never be improvised. but must
sDrinE from use and actual sea service
and from the most careful, jealous and
systematic training You. 10 whom give
fhese diplomas. now Join the ranks OF the
Dfncers OF the United States navy. You
Inter q glorious service. proud OF its
memories OF renown- You must keep ever
a your minds the thought OF the supreme
hour which may come when what you do
viii forever add 70 or detract from this re-
nown-
some OF you viii have 70 do your part
n helping construct the ships and the
4F~h -
every energy toward making these ships
and guns in all their details the most per-
fect 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 mechanism
ne 70 do the greatest possible execution in
rha shortest possible time. Every detail
whether OF protection 10 the gun crews. Of
rapidlty and sureness in handling the
ammunition, and working the elevation
and revolving gear. or Of quickness and
accuracy in sighting. must be thought out
faar in advance and thought carefully
ftted IN the actual work The best ships
and guns and the. most costly mechanism
are utterly vaiueless II the men are not
tfained 20 use them 10 the utmost possible
advantage-
Prom now on throughout your lives
fhere can be no slaclness on your part.
1nDur duty must se present with you. wax
~ and sleeping. You have got to train
yourselves and you have got 20 train those
under you. in the actual work OF seaman
ship in the actual work OF gunnery. II
the day for battle comes. you viii need all
that you possess OF boldnesss. skin. de-
termination. ability to bear punishment
and instant readiness In an emergency.
but though without these qualities you
car do nothing, yet we can do but little III
YOU have no had the forethought and set
nurpose 70 train yourselves and the en-
E iisted men under you Alright. Officers and
men alike must have the sea habit, officers
and men alike must realize that in battle
that hit and that normally the victory will
lie with the side where shots hit Oftenest-
seamanship and marksmanship-these
must be two prime objects Of your train
ing. both for yourselves and for the men
under you"
in the distributing OF special prizes Nell
Nichols or Michigan. captain and fun
~ Of last years foot ball team, and
MS year stroke OF the academy crew, was
accorded the honor OF having his name en-
rraved on the Thomas silver trophy cup
'for having done the best athletic work
86urIne the year at the academy. Francis
IA written. OF New Mexico. received a
cold medal for being one OF the champion
8fencers in the intercollegiate tournament
#heid IN New York last March He also
received a gold medal for being the cham
pion cadet small swordsman.
At the conclusion Of the address and the
distribution OF diplomas. the president re-