The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-02-26
WASHINGTON'S
BIRTHDAY
Appropriately Celebrated by the
Washington Association
Last Friday.
ADDRESS BY ADMIRAL GOODRICH

IHeTe WdS du UNUSUALLY large BdUl-
ering at Washington Headquarters
on Friday to celebrate the birthday of
the Father of His Country. The at
tendance aggregated about three hum
dred and seventy-five men. Shortly
after one O'Clock the dining hall in
the Lafayette Building was thrown
open and the march started to the
banquet with President Roberts and
Rev. r. B. Ufmy in the lead. After
Mr. Urmy had said grace, the feasting
began, the menu served as a buffet
lunch, comprising many dainties.
After the banquet the formal meet
ing was held in the meeting ROOM.
President Roberts called the assem-
blage to order and briefly welcomed
the members and guests. He stated
that there are at present three va
cancies caused by the death of mem
bers, leaving no successor. He hoped
that there would be change in this
particular, SO that it would not be
necessary to look for successors.
Mr.. Roberts announced that Vice.
President Vernam would have charge
of the meeting and Secretary Pitney
would introduce the speaker, he hav-
ing been mainly instrumental in Sc
curing his presence. Mr.. Vernam
turned over his part to Mr.. Pitney,
who first presented President Roberts
Two handsome bouquets of roses as a
token of love, regard and honor from
the members Mr.. Robe:ts rendered
his thanks for the token.
Mr.. Pitney reported that during the
past year the mansion has been kept
in good condition, and the wisdom of
continuing Mr.. Roberts in office had
again been yindicated. He forgets or
neglects nothing. The revenues have
been expended to the best advantage,
the bank balance is no smaller than it
was a year ago and the credit of the
Association is good. The minutes
have been kept with the idea that
they are written for posterity. The
work of preserving the unique papers
of the Association in typewriter form
has been continued, Miss Leddel copy
ing number during the year. The
accuracy of the copies is assured by
Miss Altha e. Hatch, to whom the
thanks of the Association are due and
he rendered her the cordial and re-
spectful thanks of the Association for
assistance in this matter.
Mr.. Pitney introduced as the speak
er of the day Admiral Casper F. Good
rich, U. S. N, who briefly thanked
the audience for the cordial way in
which he had been received. OF the
navy to-day there need little be said
and he hoped that in the future it
will not fail to respond to the most
ardent expectations of the citizens. 1t
was his purpose, he said, to go back to
the founding of the nation and to il
lustrate what was done with the ships
afloat and what might have been done
under better management.
There is peculiar significance link
ing the name of Washington with the
navy, of which few are aware. 1t is
easy for us to look back on the unfold
ing of that drama, but it was different
standing on Dorchester Heights in
IT'S and gazing into the future, and
ask what was to be the outcome of the
struggle. He did not hold that Wash
ington foretold the influence of navy,
but he was quick to learn the lesson
and apt to draw results of momentous
consequence to the nation. Naval su-
premecy was inevitably to exercise a
large influence over events and the
fact became manifest that Great
Britain absolutely depended on it's
command of the sea. The British
could work out their military plans
in their own time as long as they
maintained that command,
Boston was evacuated because Gage
had trouble in supplying his soldiers.
The retreat of Sir Henry Clinton in
IT'S was due to the appearance of the
French fleet off the capes of the Della
ware. Burgoyne would have succeed
ed except for an improvised flotilla.
Long Island was evacuated for the
same cause.
The first naval vessels were fitted
out at Massachusetts ports and were
oficered and manned by officers, and
privates from the Continental army.
Hence Washington derived his COM
mand over the navy. Admiral Good
rich named the early vessels and their
commanders and then described how
Washington acted in advance of the
Congress in the matter OF naval opera
tions, so that when Congress ordered
operations he was ready to go. He
went on to quote from letters written
by Washington, showing how he real
lied that fleet was essential to our
system of defence and how he appre-
ciated the menace of hostile fleet
The speaker told in some detail of
the expedition aimed to break up the
British depot at Castine, Maine, and
.lso applauded the act of Admiral
Rodney Of the British navy, who
learning of the presence of the French
fleets in a merican vvatars loft his ov