The Washington herald., 1908-03-14

Surrounded with coiors. standards, and
arms OF the military service of the United
States, the sixteenth annual banquet of
the Second Army Corps Association was
held in the banquet hall Of the Arlington
Hotel last night
Among the many guests who delivered
after-d.nner remarks were Maj. Charles
Lyman. Gen. Nelson A Miles. Col.
sprague, Rear Admiral Chester, George
H. Lnlebndgs, William A Sulzer, Rep
resentative from New York; Capt. Kirk.
Gen. George B. Davis. Gen. John c.
Black. Col. Hopkins, former Senator
Thurston, Dr. William Tind2Il, Mai. Tyler,
and Judge Anderson.
After the many good things had been
put away the president of the association,
Gen. Charles +. Humphries. deserted his
duty. he said, for the first time, in favor
of Capt Lyman. who filed the role OF
toastmaster beyond all expectations.
ten. Miles Introduced.
In introducing the first speaker. Gen.
Nelson A. Miles, Capt Lyman said:
1T is q great pleasure to meet you.
comrades. on the anniversary Of the
Second Army corps. This meeting is an
innovation in some respects-there We're
two menus selected. one was chosen and
one was cooked 1 sincerely hope you
enjoyed the latter and viii enjoy the
former. This Is not "A formal occasion
1t Is g0-as-y -you-please affair The speak
eP I ana about % call upon. WAS one OF
us. IS one of as. and viii remain one
of US. He was with the Second Corps
when il made history-history which will
be read by the generations 60 come. The
man who helped TO make the corps what
il was-GeneTal Nelson A. Miles"
Gen. Miles responded 10 the toastmas-
ter's remarks saying:
Il enjoy company of this character;
there IS no company Ike brave men. The
deeds Of Ga and IS, as this meeting re-
calls. are "a pleasure 70 zoe.
In going back 10 those days and their
problems. and then to think Of the prob
lens of to-day, the latter seem insignifi-
cant. The problem of slavery-whether
we should be a nation. whether the re-
public should live or be dissolved-all
We're great Great leaders had advocated
different solutions OF the problem. but it
moved on like a great cloud until il burst
into terrible war. Great armies sprang
from the homes. the very flower of man
hood. Nearly 100000 left their homes for
the first time and formed armies. and
then went off 10 the theater of war for
four long years-years when scarcely a
day passed when there was no firing from
one or the other of the armies. Step by
step progress was made; the patriotic peo-
pie Of this country toiied on and success
was achieved. The great success achieved
was done by your vslor. your sacrifice,
your brave deeds. Many We're swept into
eternity, and again say success was
achieved.
Flower of the Nation.
"Our army is unlike any other army.
1t is the flower of the nation. and the
Second Army Corps is the best type. We
had at our head the finest men that ever
marshaIed troops. Tbs first great leader
was Gen. Edwin b. Sumner. who dis
tinguished himself in the Mexican war on
the frontier-the man who was a COM
panion TO Abraham Lincoln. Gen. Sum
ner. I have heard say 10 the troops on
more than one occasion: Never think Of
giving an inch Of ground; not an Inch
Press steadily onward
Another great leader was Gen Darius
\. Crouch, who was a distinguished SOL
dier-a gentleman, a general, cool and
collected-who gave his orders clearly and
calmly. Gen. Couch was an ideal field
marshal He was a leader of men.
There is stil another, and he like the
rest. had elements Of greatness. / speak
OF Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock The
small man never commits an error.
Whatever ne does is right in his opinion
1t was not so with Hancock. for he was
great He did fun justice to all. 10 the
officers. and TO the humblest Of soldiers.
The men loved him as few men are loved
on earth
There IS no army superior to our army.
You were a part of that 100000 men. It
was an army never to be recruited. To-
day the nation IS strong. because you
made it strong by your valor and your
patriotism" "
Reads Poem on Lincoln.
Col. Sprague, an old and honored men,
Der Of the famous Second Corps, read a
poem on President Lincoln, and one on
the bivouac at Gettysburg
In introducing the next speaker. the
toastmaster said the army not alone won
battles; the navy rendered great service.
He said:
The navy has long stood in high re-
gard with the American people. The navy
has achieved what the navy of no other
country has, and I take great pleasure In
introducing Rear Admiral Chester"
Admiral Chester said:
The navy is somewhat under A cIoird
and I want to say something in defense
1t is not all glory that comes to the navy
Abuse is heaped upon it, and il is not a
fault of our own, We have lost men. but
never our glory
People are saying we do not need a
navy. we are too isolated but our next
war is not coming from our own people.
but from the outside. One Of our young
officers who never was in war spoke of
the l0l shots counted out of 1000 shots at
Santiago. Not by any means were these
the only hits. There were hits not
counted. The many ships that went
down, and the men that were shot. and
the ships that were burned TO a crisp
all had shots in them, and they were
not counted. Then there were several
long-distance shots that We're hits. We
cannot expect much more at such a time
Our navy won out at Manila. and 1 am
proud OF our record If any of Won saw,
those sixteen battle ships on the minute
of the hour for their departure. steam
out FOR the Pacific. you viii have a feel
ing of pride to learn that those same
ships have travelled 1900 miles. are in
better condition than when they left
and two days ahead OF time-a great
achievement
At the conclusion Of Admiral Chester's
remarks. the entire assemblage arose and
gave three hearty American cheers for
the navy.
Song by LittIebridge.
George II. Littlebridge, who is close
10 eighty years Of age. sang a love ballad.
which was followed by the 'Star-Spangled
Banner" Mr.. Littlebridges voice. which
Is a barVtone. Mas clear and distinct