The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-02-24

washington, Feb. 22.-1n the pres
ence of an assemblage of dintinguish-
ed peiple, including the president of
the United States, members of the
cabinet and government officials, JUS
tices of the supreme court, representa-
tives Of foreign powers, and others
eminent in the life of the nation, the
cornerstone of the army war college
was laid here yesterday with impress
sive military and Masonic ceremonies.
The occasion was rendered notable
and interesting by addresses delivered
by President Roosevelt, Secretary OF
War Root and Major General B. M.
Young, president of the war college.
object of the War College.
The site selected for the new build
ing is on the reservation of the Wash
ington barracks at the foot of Four
and One-Half street. The cere-
monies marked the beginning OF a
project which has been fostered by
the president, Secretary Root and
others interested in the advancement
and thorough training of the United
States army. While the foundation
of the new structure, which is to be
practically unique, has been only just
begun, the plans contemplated by the
war department and by congress in
clude the construction of an entirely
new set of buildings on the arsenal
grounds. Among other structures
there will be a hospital, barracks,
officers QUARTERS, and an administra-
ton building, all to be handsome and
of the most approved architectural
design The army war college grounds
have been selected as the site of the
statue of Frederick the Great, which
Emperor William has proposed to
present to the people of the United
States. IA
A picturesque incident of the cere-
monies was the participation of the
military. About 1000 troops, repre-
senting the various branches of the
war service, took part in the exer-
cises.
Ovation to President
President Roosevelt, accompanied
by his military aide, Colonel Theodore
A. Bingham, left the White House in
a carriage at II o'clock. He was es-
corted to the war college grounds
by Troop b of the Third cavalry. In
other carriages members of the cab
met accompanied the president. AS
the president and party entered the
grounds, the presidents flag was run
to the top of the Flagstaff and sec
ton of the Fourth Battery, light artil-
lery, fired the presidents salute. The
assembled troops paid the president
the tonors prescribed by the regula-
tions.
General Master George H. Walker
of the District of Columbia lodge of
Masons, and other officers of the grand
lodge in carriages were escorted to
the war. college grounds by the Sec
ond Cavalry band
The ceremonies incident to the lay.
ing of the cornerstone were impress
sive, the invocation was pronounced
by the Right Reverend Henry Y. Sat
terlee, bishop of Washington, the as
semblage standing uncovered during
the prayer. After music by the band
President Roosevelt was introduced
by General Gillespie, chief Of the en-
gineers, United States army. The
president was given a cordial ovation
His address follows:
Speech of the President.
Gentlemen: 1t should be matter
OF pride and cor graduation to every
American citizen interested in the
welfare of his country, that today
we lay the foundation stone of build
ing, the occasion of which signalizes
long stride forward in securing
the efficiency of the United States
army, step less important than that
marked by the enactment of the law
to create general staff, but step
supplementing the passage of the act
rounding it out and rendering it of
a far wider and far deeper usefulness.
Zone word first to the nation and
then another word to the army. To
the natio1 first: 1t has we'll been
said that the surest way to invite
national disaster is for nation to
be opulent, aggressive and unarmed
(Applause) The nation that is rich
that is so high-spirited as to be some