The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-02
YOU MUST
SHOOT QUICK
Summary of the President S
Advice to the Naval
Cadets To-day.
Strenuous Presentation of the
Diplomas to the Gradu-
ating Class.

president was TO deliver diplomas 10 the
graduating class. The, party travelled in
a special train over the, Pennsylvania
road.
With the president were Miss Roose-
welt, Commander and Mrs. Cowles, Sec
rotary Coltelyou, Representative Foss' OF
Illinois, chairman of the, house commit
tee on naval affairs, Representative Bur
ton of Ohio. Lieutenant Commander Won
Rebeur Paschwitz OF the German embassy,
Lieutenant Commander de Faramond de
la Fajole, the naval attache of the French
embassy and DR.. John F. Uric, the presl-
dents physician. ~
AS the president alighted- from the train
he was received by Superintendent Vain
wright and his aids Lieutenant H. j..
Zeigmeir. A battalion of marines under
command of Captain Lucas was drawn up
at the station. The party proceeded IN
carriages to the academy grounus, the
president going directly to the superln-
tendent's house where there was short
wait to permit the assembling OF the
cadet battalion at the chapel the day
was most propitious, and the cadets N
their uniforms presented fine appear
ance. -.', -..... .....r.. .'.t- IT,. 't.-.
The president walked across the campus
to where the cadets were lined up and,
passing down the line, looked each cadet
squarely 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 fired the
presidents salute of twenty-one guns.
At the sound of a bugle blast the cadets
stacked guns and, with a. precision that
bore evidence OF the discipline which
they have to undergo, marched by tours
to he chapel, where benediction was pro-
nounced by the chaplain In the meantime,
Ind "a
aisle by Commander Wainwright and was
shown to his seat on the platform, the
battalion of cadets, the officers and others
receiving the president standing. x
Commander Wainwright then introduced
DR.. George w. Winston, member of the
board of visitors, who delivered a short
address. in which he spoke of the navy as
being the most important factor in the
countrys history. He was loudly ap-
plauded when he referred to Dewey as the
hero of Manila and Sampson the hero of
Santiago, and at the conclusion of his re-
marks was congratulated by the president.
great crowd gathered around the
grandstand, where the cadets were to- rec
ceive at the hands of the president the
diplomas which would make them officers
In the United States navy. q,
The graduating class discarded their
guns and accoutrements and advanced
close to the platform. President Roose-
welt then addressed them, his remarks be-
Ing frequently interrupted by applause.
Following is the presidents address: :,
s'The U. S. Expects Every Man to Do
- His Duty - -,
In receiving these diplomas you become
men who above almost any others of thi
entire union are to carry henceforth the ever
present sense Of responsibility which mus
come with the knowledge that on some tire
mendous day it may depend upon your corr
and knowledge of your profession whethe,
or not the nation is again to write her name
on the worlds roll Of honor or to know tho
black shame of defeat - -
We all Of us earnestly hope that the occas
ion for war may never come but if it has tc
come, then this nation must win: and the
prime factor in securing victory over an,
foreign foe must Of necessity be the United
States navy. If the navy fails us then We
are doomed to defeat, matter what may bt
our material wealth or the high average O.
our citizenship. 1t should therefore, be al
object Of prime Importance for every patriotic
American to see that the navy is constant,
built up and above all that it is kept to tn,
highest point of efficiency both in materia
and in personnel s7~..' ~
1t cannot be too often repeated that il
modern way and especially in modern nava
war, the chief factor in achieving triumph il
what has been done in the way of thorough
OF the war. 1t is what has been done befor
the outbreak of war that is all important
After the outbreak, all that can be done |
to use to the best advantage the great wa
engines and the seamanship, marksmanshi
and general practical efficiency which hay
already been provided by the forethought O
the national legislature and by the admins
trative ability, through a course of years, Q
the navy department., H..
"A battleship cannot be inpravised. 1t take
years to build, and the skill OF the officer
and crew in handling it Alright can likews
never be in1provised but must spring fror
use and actual sea service and from the mos
careful Jealous and systematic training.
You to whom give these diplomas, no,
Join the ranks of the officers of the Unite
States navy. You enter glorious service
proud of its memories of renoMn. You mus
keep ever in your minds the thought of tn
supreme hour which may come when wha
you do will forever add to or detract fro1
this renown. Some of you will have to d
your part In helping construct the ships an
the guns which you use You need to ben
every energy toward making these ships an
guns in all their details the most perfet
of their kind throughout the world. The shi
must be seaworthy, the armament fitted fc
the best protection to guns and men; til
guns in all their mechanism lit to 90 tn
greatest possible execution in the shortes
possible time. Every detail, whether of Pre-
lection to tho gun crews, or rapidity an
sureness in handling the ammunition an
working the elevating ard revolving gea
or of quickness and accuracy In sightin,
must be thought out far in advance, and til
thought carefully executed in actual worl
The best ships and guns and the most cost
mechanism are utterly valueless if the me
are not trained to use them to the utmo
" possible advantage. -
From now on throughout your lives thel
can be no slackness on your part. Your Out
must be present with you, waking and sleel
ing. You have got to train yourselves al
YOU have got to train those under you in Il
actual work Of searnanship, in the actu
work of gunnery. If the day for battle com
YOU Will need all that you possess of Dol
ness, SKILL determination, ability to be
punishment, and instant readiness in
emergency.
But though without these qualities y,
can do nothing, yet even with them "
can do but little If you have not had t
forethought and set purpose to train: you
selves and the enlisted men under you arigf
officers and men alike must have the s
habit; officers and men alike must reali
that in battle the only shots that count a
the shots that hit and that normally the vi
tory will 1ie with the side whose shots
oftenest.
Seamanship and marksmansh ip-these mu
he the two prime objects OF your trainin
both for yourselves and for the men und
you. 80, q
At. the conclusion of his address al
the Distributing Of diplomas. the presidel
requested that he be taken to the hospit