The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-07
PRAISE FOR
MEN BEHIND
THE GUNS
President Roosevelt Gives
Crew Heart to Heart Talk.
WANTS NO POOR SHOTS
Urges All to Be Credit to
Great Navy.

Greenport. L. L, August 6.-President
Roosevelt today participated on board the
Mayfiower in mimic warfare. The ma-
reuvers which the ship executed were
precisely the same which might have been
gone through in active battle
The gun practice Of the crew of the
Mayhower indicates that the men behind
the guns on board American war YES
sells are even more efficient and accurate
than they were in Manila bay or or San
tiago. After witnessing the work Of
the crew of No. gun-the winners OF
the contest, President Roosevelt person
ally went to the gun pointer. W. J. O.
bonneH. and, shaking his hand cordial
ly. said:
You did well-evcellentlyi
The shooting OF the winning crew was
rhenomenally good. At an average OF
100 yeards they made 50 per cent OF hits
They fred twenty shots and made six
teen hits, two of them buiiseyes.
At the conclusion OF the target prdc-
tice the crew was assembled on the quar-
terdeclS 70 witness the presentation OF the
prizes offered by the president
Mr.. Roosevelt addressed the officers
and men as follows:
Il hope this win be but the beginning Of
a practice which will make the May
flower stand as the crack guDship OF the
navy. One or two of the crews had hard
luck. notably the marines of the port
one-pounder, the gun which fred twenty
eight shots. The target drifted and that
makes the record no fair test as regards
the crew. I am pleased with the show
ing you have made and expect next time
to see a material improvement Some OF
the crews show the need OF it. Now. just
one word TO the enlisted men and the
sailors. buth 70 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
It is credit to the navy as a whole
when the crew Of single ship does well
Every man who does well reflects credit
upon the navy; every man who does badly
reflects discreGit upon it. know / can
count on ali on board this ship. as upon
board all other ships In the navy ex-
pect that each man will so do his duty as
70 reflect cradit upon the navy as a
whole. I should Ike now to see the win
ming crew
When the four men comprising the crew
W. J. O'DonnelI. gun pointer: F Crowley.
c. c. Grim and \. w. Hndebrand had
stepped forward by order Of lieutenant
the president. the president, addressing
them. said:
Il am very much pleased with the work
You have done today. and 7 want 20 say
that if you keep up this record It will be
difficult TO find a better six-pounder In
navy. In the training or first class gun
pointers Is the solution OF the problem OF
obtaining the highest efficiency Of the
navy"
The president then shook hands With
tho members Of the successful crew. and
as he did 50 pressing a fve-dollar bill
into the palm Of each bat giving s. to
the gun-pointer. O'DonneH
Adverting later to his giving Of prizes
to the successful gun crew, the presi-
dent announced that he was in CORES
pondence with the secretary Of the navy
regarding the matters of Offering prizes
for special excellence in gun pointing. lie
believes there Is no better way 20 IN
prove the craftsmanship of naval Runners
than to excite among them friendly en-
uiation.
The president. 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
well their duties
1t may rest with you men. some time. %
he said. whether honor OF shame shall
some to our country"