New-York tribune., 1906-11-28

two others hetss the West Virginia and the MIS-
souri,. / am vx>y proud of the ships: am even
Captain, l want TO thank the chief petty oul-
GERS mess and the army and navy union want
especially TO thank the engineers force Tor VIVA. a
they did this morning / wanted TO see myselI
what the ship could do. and L wanted them TO
let link out OF her, and II is more tnan graf
flying that at the end of three weeks eFlp ,nr we
should be able to do from half TO tnree-quar-
tiers of knot better than her contract speeo'
for we went eighteen and haif Knots.
That speaks well for the engines ana !" SPEAKS 3
better for the engineers force 1t is
good thing.
There was another thing which l have seen
which particularly interested me, Mr.. Oeternus,
and that was the drill this morning In LOADING
the finch guns. did not suppose 1t would De
extraordinarv speed and precision. I under
stand that not TO say anything as t2 the
methods until you have had change 10 Iake take
the tuck out Of the other ships so 1 shall only
cav that II behooves the other ships with 7-inch
guns 20 look TO their laurels.
EXCLUSION WOULD COST LICENSE.
One thing more take this chance to say. /
have been astounded and mortified at the atti-
tude of certain of our people ashore in declin-
sng TO allow Uncle Sans men when they have
their uniforms on 10 come into places OF amuse-
nlent. Outside Of Washington l have no con
troll over those places OF amusement: IN WASH
tngton have. and any place OF amusement 10
which admission Is denied to reputable Ineh
who are behaving themselves who wear the UNI
form Of the army or the navy VIII lose its
license II IL is in my power 10 cause the ioss'
and think 1t Is
7 want to thank you for another thfng-the
entertainment the other night. 1t was hrst
class: and as I have been with soldiers myself
and as / have boys at boarding schools ana COL
Iege. ii pleased me TO see that there is so much
human nature everywhere, and that there Is al
ways complaint about something in the coInnis-
sary department. AS regards that particular
complaint, 10 judge from the dinner had win
the enlisted men the Missouri and the dinner
had at the chief petty officers mess here, am
afraid I cannot extend you much sympathy
Now, in closing, one word which think IS
needless. I hope that every man here. oflcer
and enlisted man alike, will remember that his
profession sets him apart from all other men IN
the country not in the army navy by putting
upon his shoulders peculiar responsibility.
You enlisted men, If you stay in the service
thirty years and have taken reasonable ad-
vantage Of your opportunities during that time
retire what is practically pension in the
neishborhood Of $500 year Uncle Sam has
your interests at heart. You have from our peo-
PIE g measure Of hope and belief and affection
such as, rightly enough, is yielded to no others.
GREAT ADVANCES IN MARKsMANsHIP.
ia honor bound SO to fit himself in time of peace
that in time OF war he and his comrades can
render such an account Of themselves to
turn @ new page in the long honor roll of United
States history. 1t will depend on how you have
done your duty in time Of peace whether or not,
should war come, the nation Will have cause TO
feel pride to feel shame. Your effectiveness in
war cannot be acquired efter war has begun.
Your effectiveness will then depend upon the
way In which you officers have learned to handle
the ships. singly and in feet formation, day in
and day out. month in and month out, by actual
practice on the high seas it will depend upon
the way in which you enlisted men, under the
officers. under your warrant and petty officers,
have learned To handle yourself il the gun tur-
ret and engine room. The navy has made as
founding advances in craftsmanship during the
last five years, and II has made them not only by
developing the high quality OF the Individual
man. but by developing the team play without
which that individual mans prowess counts for
nothing 1t is a revelation to any man TO see
the work done by the gun crews, with the Il,
s. 7 and inch guns. 1t is q revelation to any
man 20 see how Our people aSoat are learning TO
work together TO have in addition to the
work Of the gun pointers perfect system or
fire control. Just the ships are learning to
nlanoeuvre together at q speed and distance
which ten years ago would have given the cap
tains heart failure If they had tried It.
congratulate you on your progress. Remem-
ber that the instant you become contented with
ft and think you have gone far enough and re-
main STILL that very instant you will begin TO
go back; and I believe implicitly that you Will
go forward. In conclusion. let me say how glad
/ 10 be with you. how proud, as the Chief
Executive Of the American people. am Of you,
and how heartily believe in the character and
quality Of the officers and enlisted men Of the
American feet. I greet you and thank you
again