The San Francisco call., 1908-05-17
KNIGHTS Do HONOR
TO PETTY OFFICERS
Catholic Organization Gives a
Banquet to "Inspirers
of Patriotism"
Two Rear AdmiraIs Present and
Former Mayor Among
the Speakers

Francisco gathered its membership last
night and welcomed the retiring and
the incoming admirals of the feet,
Mayor TAYLOR. Chaplain n. C. Gleeson.
the commanding officers Of the ships.
zoo fafr women, all OF whom honored
The uertF officers OF the armada in Ad-
uiraI Thomas words. the men who
fusuu patriotism and devotion TO duty
in the enlisted men until they are
ready 20 go forward in time of battle.
lareless OF their own welfare as dis
embodied spirits
More than 100 Of the chief petty OIL
GERS Of the fleet sat at the tables as the
lonored guests of the occasion and
were made 10 feel what a high privi-
lege Is theirs in serving and uphoIding
the viii Of the nation
Beneath the black Maltese cross and
the red and white banner Of the
knights, and the stars and stripes,
draped in the center of the hall. mayor
and admiral spoke the praises of the
man behind the fighting man Of the
gun.
on the theme OF National Defense"
Admiral Thomas spoke his parting
words
-The navy IS the right arm Of the
peoples defense. Our material is sim
ply splendid and ship for ship we viii
match them against the world In
making up the personnel of the fleets
the backbone OF the navy is the corps
of the petty officers. ] have come into
closest contact Egith them during the
last five years OF my service, and I
am proud 10 bear record tonight that.
n loyalty and steadfastness TO duty. in
he power 70 instin the qualities OF
rourage and obedience and faithfulness
n the enlisted men. I can ma och them
n r71
dent in the belief that they VIII prove
winners every time"
PRAISES PETTY OFFICERS
Admiral Sperry received a deafening
welcome as he arose 10 respond 10 the
BOAST The Atlantic Fleet and spoke
directly 10 the petty officers as the men
on whom the commissioned officers
must depend 10 maintain the standards
az manliness ana devotion In the en-
listed men.
When you salute your superior on
cer you simply give the greeting with
which one gentleman may honor an
other. and by obedience you earn the
respect and attention Of those under
your command"
san Francisco was Mayor TayIor's
theme. He said Ia part.
Mr. TOsStmaster and Friends. airs
Taylor aud thank you very much for
For the good works OF the Knights
of Columbus you have our heartiest in
terest and good wishes. Speaking 10
the officers and men Of the navy. I
wish TO say that you cannot possibly
know the feeling toward the fleet
which wells up IN the hearts OF Cali
fornians- No wonder the welcome be-
ginning at san Diego has swelled in
volume until Il has become a veritable
tidal wave Of enthusiasm as we have
beheId embodied before us the striking
power Of our country. a power SO
strong that whom need We fear that
may attack u.s.
NAVY ADDED STATE
1T was BY the act Of the navy
that California was indissOlubly
bound 10 this country. The initiative
OF Commodores Sloat. Dupont and
Montgomery in raising the flag upon
what was then Mexican ground but is
now our own beloved state OF Cali
fornia and city OF san Francisco,
was responsible for bringing our soil
within the domain Of the United
States. san Francisco has had an
eventfuI history since that historic
happening commemmorated by Ports
mouth square
Only two years ago she was at
lacked by earthquake and ravlshed by
IRE. and some Of her own children, who
should have stood for her defense, tore
st her bosom with poisoned talons. but
tonight you see her living. triumphant
and welcoming TO her proud heart every
man Of the feet, from the highest TO
the lowest
Let US hope as she goes forward, en-
shrined IN the hearts OF those that love
hcr as the dearest and the fairest OF our
cities, that keeping step with her
progress IN material power and beauty.
civic righteousness viii be enthroned
as the predominant ruler Of her des-
tinies."
James r. Keith as the first speaker
of-the evening, welcomed Our Guests
The petty officers OF the feet striking
the keynote for those that were TO fol-
low him and paying = deserved tribute
10 the valor and manIiness Of the men.
At the close OF his speech the 500 IN the
hall rose e. one man and made the
rafters ring with three cheers and a
tiger" for the petty officers Of the feet.
Il was good 10 see admirals and mayors
and the chief men OF the city showing
their admiration for the men who
faithfully DO their humble duty in the
turret and the engine room.
Neal Power spoke OF the order and OF
Americas first and greatest admiral.
Christopher Columbus, the patron and
exemplar Of the knights"
me [AEL 4dl LlE triumph AAtls
borne by twelve stalWart men. a feet
IN miniature. built Of ice and frosted
work. and representing the santa Ma
ria Of Columbus. an early armored
cruiser. and a modern battleship, sailed
slowly around the room while the hum
dreds gave a merry welcome 10 the sec
ond deet's entrance.
PHELAN Is APPLAUDED
James .. Phelan's address caused
great applause He said in part
II was due to the sesmsnship Of
IN American navy captain that Cali
fornia was saved What more could
be said IN greeting the feet2 We also
hvae contributed our quota 10 that feet
Among other great ships. the oregon
came from san Francisco In the Span-
ish war we all feared for the safety
Of our coast. but when Admiral Dewey
and our feet spoke forth we knew
that our fortunes and our coasts were
saved, and again we owed a great debt
10 our navy.
I'VE have heard some Of the ca
pricious say that Il was unfortunate
that Admiral Evans should have had
20 undertake TO bring the feet around
when he was stricken. with sickness
and that another admiral should have
taken command. But IN the wonderful