The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-12
WEST POINT's DAY
OF CENTENNIAL AT
ITS CLIMAX.
PRESIDENT THE CHIEF GUEST
CEN. PoRTER's GRAFTON A BRIL-
LIANT EFFORT.

History OF AhC AhC
story of It's Foundation, Its Pur-
noses and object and the Class
and Character of Men 1t Has Pro-
duced-President Roosevelt Spoke
IN similar Vein and Paid Tribute
"a the West Pointers With Whom
He served Mt San Juan.
Vest Point, n. Y, June 1.-THE eel
.hratton of the Tooth anniversary of
tbe establishment of the West Point
Military Academy reached it's climax
TODAY. President Roosevelt was the
chief guest and there was a brilliant
crowd. including army and navy Off
c4rs. cabinet officers. ladies in bright
i costumes and handsomely uniformed
diplomats.
The days activity began with the ar
rival Of the President, and then came
review of the cadets. a reception at
the home of the superintendent of
the academy Col. Mills. the formal ex-
ercises and speeches in Memorial Hall
after luncheon, and the dress parade
n at shutdown. The Centennial ban
ouet with more than 500 guests was
4 held in the evening.
The President was met at the station
4 by Superintendent Mills and his staff
and the staff of the academy. When
the President reached the crest a sa-
lutte Of p guns was fired. The cadets
n were drawn up on the parade ground.
II The President was driven to the home
& Of Col Mills and then he walked across
Il the street to the parade ground and
4 reviewed the cadets.
signal Honor for Titus.
In the course of the review Cadet
n Calvin P. Titus was called from the
ranks to face the President, who
e pinned a medal for bravery on his
n breast and spoke a few words to him.
n Immediately after luncheon the hun
4 dreds of visitors sought Memorial Hall,
new stone structure, where the ex-
ercises were held. The President, es-
n oorted by the cadets and leading a
notable party of officers,
q came across the parade ground
81 and soon after his entrance the speak
Fl ing began Col Mills made an address
a Of welcome and then introduced Presi-
n dent Roosevelt.
President ROOseveIt's Tribute.
President Roosevelt said in part:
Not merely has West Point con-
"A trbuted Il greater number of the men
who stand highest in the nations hon
4 Or roll, but 1 think beyond question
that, taken as a whole, the average
graduate of West Point during this
hundred years has given a greater
amount Of service to the country
through his life than has the average
graduate of any other institution on
this broad land. (Applause).
Now gentlemen, that is not sur
priSlng That is what we have a right
to expect from this military university
ROUNDED by the nation. (Applause). But
am glad that the expectation has
been made good, and of all The insti-
lutlons in this country none is more
absolutely American, none more. in the
pioper sense of the word, alb
Solutely democratic than this. Here
we care nothing for the boys birth
pace for the boys grade, for his So
cal standing; here we care nothing
save Tor his worth if he is able to
snow It, (Applause)
II was my good fortune to see in
he campaign in Cuba how the grad
yates o. West Point handled them
seNes' and to endeavor to profit by
lieH example, and it has become my
pressure to come here to-day because
was at that time intimately associated
win many of your graduates.
west Pointers at San Juan.
"on the day before the San Juan
night, when we were marched I'D into
position. we lost communication with
Vur oaggage and food, and for supper
uidt night had what Col. Mills gave
He, Laughter and applause), and it
!tdSled very good, and the next morn
s Col' Mills was with another West
5r(olHter' ShiDp from North Carolina
In9 next morning we had breakfast to-
s5lher and l remember we'll congrat-
, uia.Ag myself that my regiment-we
l.e all volunteer egiments-could
eve as an example men like Mills and
mp whose very presence made the
~ cool and made them feel collected
ana ana at ease. Mills and Shipp went
81 gu with our regiment to the action
tn Ei ny after it was begun Shipp was
~! 49, ana Mills received a wound from
ba'Ch no one of us at the time thought
would recover There was never
WI moment by day or night that I
sor not an eye witness of
dor performance of duty being
ssr ne by West Pointer and 1 never
west Pointer failing in his duty
Hard Work for Future.
Al think it is going to be a great
~ harder to be a first-class officer
me future than it has been in the
u.s. think that in addition to the
idse and steadfastness that have
soIsiys oeen the prime requisites in a
SET you have got to show a far
tbar part power of individuality
ar a" mas been necessary before if you
~ gong TO get up the highest level
h., o'icer-llke performance of duty. As
NJ oeen well said. the developments
b,,'" driare during the last few years
n1t SHOWN that in the future the
tb1 VIII not be the regiment, nor yet
.oIihpany but the unit will be the
60 luual man. In a battle hereafter
IN man is going to be to a consider
H. extent alone. 1t will be so that
n,, "ungest officers will have 10 take
forrLn OF the responsibility that in
r,l.rr wars fell on their seniors. and
~ OF the enlisted men viii have
-u most OF their work without any
NH vision OF any officer The man
~ idVe to act largely alone. and If
Sons. 'o"s tendency 10 huddie up 10
,. one else. his usefulness is pretty
, ar an end. You want TO realize
D.. more than ever before the honor
shame Of the country depends
lne high average Of character
Il. 4plcity Of The officers and enlist
men and that Won have got 10 de-