The age-herald., 1902-05-03
President Roosevelt Made the
 Presentation Ad5r }
SAYS LARGE NAVY IS NEEDED
While Discussing the Need Of Inor- ouqh Training, the President Says It's the Shot That Hits the
 Mark That Counts.

Annapolis. May 2.-President Roose- welt and party arrived here this morning and participated in the graduating exer- cises at the naval academy. The Presi- dent delivered the diplomas to the gradu- ates and spoke to them as follows:
 "In 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 responsi- bility which must come with the knowl- edge that on some tremendous day 1t may depend upon your courage, your prepared ness, your keen intelligence 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 oc- casion 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 fail us then we are doomed to defeat no matter what may be our ma terial wealth or the high average of our citizenship.
 Need Larger Navy.
 "It should therefore be an object of prime importance for every patriotic American to see that the navy is con- stantly built up; and above all, that 1t is kept to the highest point of efficiency both in material and in personnel. It cannot be too often repeated that in mod ern war, and especially in modern naval war, the chief factor in achieving tri- umph is what has been done in the way of thorough preparation and training be- fore the beginning of the war. It is what has been done before the outbreak of war that is all important. After the outbreak all that can be tone Is to use to the best advantage the great war engines and the seamanship, craftsmanship and general practical efficiency, which have alreaoy been provided by the foresight of the na- tional legislature and by the administra- tive ability through course of years, or the Navy Department.
 ..You to whom I give these diplomas now join the ranks of the officers of the limited States navy. You enter glorious service. proud cf it's memories and it's renown You must keep ever in your minds the thought of the supreme hour which may come when what you oo VIII forever add to detract from thls re- noyn. Some of you will have to do your mart in helping construct the ships ana the guns which you use. -ou heea to bend every energy towards maRing thes sbins and guns in all their details the most perfect of their kind throughout the world
 Men Must Be Trained.
 "But the best ships and guns and the most costly mechanism are utterly val ueless, if the men are not trained 10 use them to the utmost possible advantage. From now on throughout your lives there can he no slackness on your part. our duty must be present with you, waking or sleeping. You have got to train your selves and you have got to train those under you in the actual work Of seaman ship, in the actual work of gunnery IT the day for battle comes you Will need all that you possess of boldness, skill, de- termination, ability to bear punishment, and instant readiness in an emergency.
 ..Though without these qualities you ran do nothing yet even with them you can do little if you have not had the forethought and set purpose to train yourselves and the enlisted men under you alright. Officers and men alike must have the sea habit; officers and men
 
 shots that count are the shots that hit and that normally the victory will He with the side where shots hit oftenest. Seamanship and marksmanship-thes must be the two prime objects of your training both for yourselves and for the men under you.
 Reviewed the Cadets.
 The President walked across the cam pus to where the cadets were lined up and passjng down the line looked each cadet souarely in the face. He was then pre- scented to the officers of the academy by Commander Wainwright. While this was going on the shore batteries hred the presidents salute of 21 guns. At the sound of a bugle blast the cadets stacked gnns and marched by fours until bene- diction was pronounced by the Chaplain. Tn the meantime the President escorted by Commander Wainwright, was shown to his seat on the platform. Commander wainwright then introduced Dr. George T. Winston, member of the board Of visitors who delivered a short address, fin which he spoke of the navy as being the most important factor in the coun- trv's history He was loudly applauded when he referred to Dewey of Manila and Sampson and Schley at Santiago, and at the conclusion of his remarks was con graduated by the President.
 Prizes Distributed.
 Tn the distribution of special prizes. Mel E. Nichols Michigan, captain and full back of last years football team and this years stroke of the academy crew, was accorded the honor of having his name engraved on the Thomas silver trophy cup for having done the best ath- letic work during the year at the acad- emy
 
 Francis s. Whitten, New Mexico receiv- ed a gold medal for being one of the champion fencers of the intercollegiate fencing tournament held in New York last March. He also received a gold medal for the champion cadet small swordsman
 At the conclusion of the address and distribution of diplomas the President re- quested that he be taken to the hospital where Cadet Emory g. Long Of WyominR. . m ember of the graduating class was lying i'll. Sitting up in bed the s!ck cadet received his diploma from the President. The President was then given an oppor- tunity to witness th- customary prank of she plebes. throwing the graduation class