Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-07

foreigners We're accompanied by their
staffs and memb of their countries dip
lOmatic corps at Washington.
Admiral Sands Remarks
They were received on the parade ground
| in front OF the residence OF Supt Sands
| with the honors due their rank, and be-
| fore proceeding to the armory, where the
| exercises took place.
Admiral Sands, in presenting Secretary
Metcalf took occasion to again compliment
| the members of the class of 1907 which has
| indeed done much to stamp out hazins and
| to raise in many ways the moral tone of
| the academy.
Always remember with pride that you
| are members of the class of 1907. said he.
| "In word to the class of 1908" he sad,
| "you all know why | have put this class
| now graduating on it's high pedestal, for the
work its members have accomplished. l
| expect the class of 1908 not to be content
with the standard set by 1907, high as that
| is but | want them to go and progress
| in the work already started. In this in
| coming class there are men of equal intelli-
gence, and certainly of as high sense of
honor
Senator Gallinger the First Speaker.
The first speaker Senator Gallinger.
Admiral Sands introduced him a warm
friend of the Naval Academy.
Senator Gallinger said that he had thrice
served as member of the board of visitors
to the Naval Academy. and he recounted
the marvellous changes that have come over
the institution since he first served in that
capacity twenty years ago. The magnin-
cent new buildings, with the perfect equip
ment for the training of the American
naval officers. make the institution one of
which the people of Annapolis should feel a
Just pride He noted the vast development
in the navy, and said that it compared very
favorably with the nations of the world
He said that the people of the country III
general and Annapolis in particular should
feel proud that the remains OF John PAU
Jones, the great seafighter and the first
admiral of the American navy, were now
on American soil and right here in An
napohs. ,.. ,-,.
Senator Gallinger said that it is with the
greatest qualification that the board of WIS.,
itors learns that this Objectionable custom
which fourished at the institution for
years has been finally stamped out The
class of 1907, of which the graduates of
yesterday form part, took a most lmpor.
tant step in bringing about cessation of
the practice, and the speaker quoted the
words in the Lucky Bag" the official pub
LEGATION of the graduates, viz, 1T marked
turn of the tide in all its forms
'These are brave and signlncant words,
said Senator Gallinger. They eXemplify
the high and noble type OF manly charac-
ter He said the abolition Of the practice
marked one of the most important events
in the history of the academy. In conclu-
sion Senator Gallinger babe the graduates
a cordial and affectionate farewell.
Secretary MetcalIS AuuTess.
Secretary Metcalf said, in part: II have
seen much of this world and have come
into contact with men of the various walks
Of life but never yet have | met hner'or
more representative body of men than the
officers of the American navy. They are
posspssed of lofty ideals, the highest sense
of honor and devotion to duty and the
flag under which they serve. Their honor,
integrity and bravery have never been
called into question. Inc young men come
here from all sections of the United States
and of various conditions of life, and like
the great majority of the American youth,
you are independent and have not learned
the great lesson of obedience. Obedience in
every case must be eXacted. but the officers
in giving their commands should give them
SO as not to create any feeling of antag-
onism.
II visited the Atlantic fleet at Guam
tanamo, Cuba in March of last year. while
the ships were engaged in target practice
keen rivalry exists between the officers
and crews of the different ships in this i'm
portant branch of work, and there was
great interest to learn of the records that
were made in the practice One of the
ships established a record of u hits in "a
seconds with a 6-inch gun and a range
of l 100 Yards, and of these hits were
bulrs-eyes. That is a record of which the
officers of any ship may feel justly proud.
The men of our navy shoot and shoot
straight. and In case of declaration of
war-but God forbid that there will be any
war-no American need have fear OF the
outcome of that war. With the monster
ships now built. and others under construc-
ton. our navy will be one of the most pow
erful af1oat.
For a Powerful Navy.
"A nation cannot improvise Ships or
crews or officers. 1t is of the highest i'm
| portance for a country always to be in
state of preparedness in time of conflict
| and a wen-equipped navy is the surest
guarantor of peace. II is my opinion that
! disputes between nations should be settled