Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-28
PROUD OF THE NAVY
Remarks of the President to the
Louisiana's Crew.
MUST CONTINUE TO GO ON
To Stand Still is to Go Backward, He
Reminds Them.
DUTY OF THE ENLISTED MAN
Experience Of the Chief Executive on
His Trip To and From
Panama.
MUST CONTINUE TO GO ON
DUTY OF THE ENLISTED MAI

from Panama on the battleship Louisiana
mixed freely with the officers and men, of
whom he speaks in the highest commenda-
uon. He participated in the chief petty
omcers mess and visited the branch of the
Army and Navy Union which has an or
ganfzation Of about fifty members on the
Louisiana, and whose meetings take place
way down In the hold Of the ship AS the
ship was of Hatteras, on the way home,
the President had the engineer department
steam up. and for three hours the vessel
made run Of eighteen and a half knots,
which is half a knot In excess Of the con-
tract requirements. On the homeward trip
vaudeville entertainment was given by
the men in honor Of the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt. This took place during the
early part of the voyage and was held at
night. The President and Mrs Roosevelt
and the officers Of the ship were the guests
or honor and occupied the front seats,
whfe the men were scattered around in the
coming towers, on the bridge and other
points of vantage. There was a program
oL sixteen selections, made up Of songs,
sketches, solos Of various kinds and mono
logues.
The Presidents Speech.
AS the vessel was nearing the Virginia
capes Sunday the President delivered a
speech to the men assembled on board the
vessel, In which he told them of what he
had experience and gave them some ad-
vice. His remarks were as follows:
Captain and Officers and Enlisted Men
OF the Louisiana: I wish to thank you
for as pleasant and interesting a trip as
any President has ever had on land or sea,
and profitable trip, too. Not only l do
not see how any President but do not see
how any good American can fail to believe
with all his heart in the United States
90 nj fO do all fI,ok -;
the officers and men of that navy in or
der that the navy itself may be brought to
constantly increasing state of perfection
as formidable fighting machine. This is
the third or our great ships on which
have spent some time: the other two being
the West Virginia and the Missouri. / am
proud of the ships; I am even prouder of
the men aboard the ships.
Captain, I want to thank you for your
hospitality; I want to thank the ward
room want to thank the chief petty Of
fcers mess. and the Army and Navy
Union. I want especially to thank the en-
ing. wanted to see myself what the ship
could do. and wanted them to let link
out of her; and it is more than gratifying
that at the end Of a three weeks trip we
should be able to do from a half to three
quarters Of a knot better than her contract
speed for we went over eighteen and q
half knots. That speaks well for the en-
gines, and it speaks even better for the en-
6AuccIS 1OICc. II - 8OOO tuln&.
e Speed In Loading Guns.
There was another thing which I have
seen which particularly interested me. Mr..
Osterhaus. and that was the drill this
morning in loading the seyen-inch guns.
did not suppose it would be possible to
load these great shells with such extraor-
binary speed and precision. I understand
that am not to say ANYTHING as to the
methods until you have had a chance to
take the tuck out of the ships; so I shall
only say that 1t behooves the other ships
with seven-inch guns to look to their
laurels.
"One thing more I take this chance to
say. 1 have been astounded and mortified
at the attitude Of certain Of our people
ashore in declining to allow Uncle Sans
men when they have their uniforms on to
come into places of amusement
Control Of Local Theaters.
"Outside of Washington I have no con-
troll over those places Of amusement: in
Washington 1 have. and any place of
amusement to which admission Is denied
to reputable men who are behaving them
selves who wear the uniform of the army
or the navy will lose its license II it is in
my power to cause the loss. and think 1t
II want to thank you for another thing
the entertainment the other night. It was
urSt Glass; ana az i nave Deem Win 8OlQlerS
myself. and as I have boys at boarding
school and college. 1t pleased me to see that
there is SO much human nature every
where, and that there Is always complaint
partment! AS regards that particular COM
plant, to Judge from the dinner mad with
the enlisted men on the Missouri and the
dinner I had at the chief petty officers
mess here. I am afraid can not extend
you much sympathy!
Now in closing, one word, which think
is needless. l hope that every man here
officer and enlisted men alike will remem-
Der that his profession sets him apart from
all other men in the country not in the
army Otr navy, by putting upon his Shout
ders a peculiar responsibility. You enlisted
men, II you stay In the service thirty years
and have taken reasonable advantage of
your opportunities during that time, can
then, perhaps at the age of fifty or fifty
five, retire on what Is practically a pension
of in the neighborhood of $500 a year.
Uncle Sam has your interests at heart.
You have from our people a measure Of
hope and belief and affection such as right
ly enough Is yielded to no others.
Duty Of Enlisted Men.
"Now in return remember that each of
you is in 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 al to turn a new page in the
long honor roll of the United States history.
1t Will depend on now you nave done your
duty in time of peace whether or not should
war come. the nation will have cause to
feel pride or to feel shame. Your effective
ness in war cannot be acquired after war
has begun. Your effectiveness will then de-
pend upon the way in which your officers
have learned to handle the ships, sinSly
and in fleet formation. day in and day out,
month in and month out. by actual prac-
tice on the high seas; 1t will depend upon
the way you enlisted men. under the Of
ficers. under your warrant and petty off,
GERS. have learned to handle yourselves In
the gun turret and engine room.
Advance Of the Navy.
''The navy has made astounding ad-
vances in Workmanship during the past five
years. and 1t has made 1t not only by devel-
oping the high quality Of the individual
man, but by developing the team play with
out which that individual mans prowess
counts for nothing. 1t Is q revelation to any
man to see the work done by the gun crews,
with the twelve. eight, seven. six-inch guns:
1t Is revelation to any man to see how
our people anoat are learning to work to-
gether SO as to have. In addition to the
work of the gun pointers. perfect system
Of fire control. just as the ships are learn
ing to maneuver together at speed and