The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-28

and precision. 1 understand tina 1 am not
to say anything as 70 the methods until you
have had a chance 90 take the tuck" out OF
other ships so | shall only say that IL behooves
the other ships with 7 inch guns to look
TO their laurels.
One thing more take this nance to say.
have been astounded and mortified at the
attitude of certain OF our people ashore in
declining 20 allow Uncle Sans men when
they have their uniform on TO come into places
Of amusement. Outside OF Washington l
have no control over these places OF amuse-
ment; in Washington l have. and any place
OF amusement to which admission is denied
TO reputable men whoare beha wing themselves
who wear the uniform Of the army or the
navy will lose its license II il is In my power
to cause the loss. and | think it is.
| want TO thank you for another thing
the entertainment the other night, IL was
first class; and as ! have been with soldiers
myself. and as ! IA We boys at boarding school
and college. it pleased me to see that there
is so much human nature everywhere and
that there Is always complaint about some
thing In the commissary department.
As regards that particular complaint. to
iud 0e from the dinner / had with the enlisted
men on the Missouri and the dinner | had at
the chief petty officers mess here, l am afraid
cannot extend you much sympathy,
Now in closing, one word. which think Ia
needless. hope that every man here, officer
and enlisted man alike, will remember that his
profession sets him apart from all other men
In the country not In the army or navy by
putting upon his shoulders a peculiar re-
sponsibility. You enlisted men, II you stay in
in the service thirty years and have taken
reasonable advantage of your opportunities
during that time. can then. perhaps at the age
of 80 or SIS. retire on what is practically a PEN
sion of in the neighborhood of 5000 a year.
Uncle Sam has your interests at heart. You
have from our people n measure OF hope and
belief and affection such as. rightly enough,
In yielded to no others. Now In return remem-
Der that each OF you is in honor bound so TO
fit himself ia time of peace that in time OF war
he and his comrades can render such an ac-
count Of themselves as to turn a new page
In the long honor roll OF United States history.
II 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 or to feel shame.
Your effectiveness in war cannot he acquired
after war has begun. Your effectiveness
will then depend upon the way in which you
officers have learned to handle the ships,
singly and in fleet formation. day In and day
out, month In and month out, by actual prac-
tice on the high seas: it. will depend upon the
way in which you enlisted men. under the
officers. under your warrant and petty officers.
nave learned TO nAuule yOuTsclNes III Iuc
gun turret and engine room.
The navy has made astounding advances
in marksma nship during the past 1ve years.
and it has made IL not only by developing
the high quality OF the individual man. but
by developing the team play without which
an individual mans prowess counts for
nothing. 1t Ia a revelation TO any man to see
the work done by the gun crews with the
IL, 3, 7 and o inch guns; IL is a revelation TO
any man to see how our people afioat are
learning 10 work together so as 20 have. In
addition to the work Of the gun pointers. a
perfect system Of fire control. just as the
ships are learning to ma vre together at
a speed and a distance which ten years ago
would have given the captains heart failure
II they had tried it.
| congratulate you on your progress. Re-
member that the instant you become con-
tented with II and think you have gone far
enough and remain still. that very instant
you will begin to go back; and I believe i'm
plicitly that you will go forward.
In conclusion let me say how glad | am
to be with you. how proud. as the Chief Execu-
tive Of the American people. I am Of you. and
how heartily | believe in the character and
quality Of the officers and enlisted men Of the
American fleet. l greet you and thank you
again.