New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-03-05
From The Pail Mali Gazette. February q. ]
THE UNITED STATES NAVY.
Mr., wmtelaw Reds Racy Speech.

Mr. WhItelaw Reid. the American Ambassa dor.
made a racy speech at dinner given by the
London section OF the United States Navy
League last night at the Hyde Park Hotel on
the anniversary OF Washingtons birthday. Mr.
]. Morgan Richards was in the chair Mr.. Reid
said:
portance Of sea power to big nation demon
or If you need t to keo Also 5n 6v ~f h E og
est sea coast OF any Power and ought 10 have
want 10 be once more reminded that we always
have a big trade afoat and should sometimes
aspire 10 have II carried in our own vessels or at
least the coal to QSr own war vessels stockton tod
states Embassy In London( can expound al THIS
you by the hour. But, as matter Of fact. the
tnEd OF fo 5Ts itsefn taS 10 some purpose too
It's oicers lave generally been able also to talk
pretty readily occasOn-sOmetimes, il must be
confessed Just a shade TOO readily.
wardness OF referring to possible occurrences with
ample Of the greatest man in our early navy, one
OF the very greatest men, in fact our navy ever
had, John Paul Jones
PAUL. JoNEs's UNLUCKY JEST.
He was the author you know. Of first navy
drew up the plan. furnished drawings and speci-
ana helped about the bif before the Continental
Vel Just as hh he Plan bdd W1i f ng9 the be d
summary Of what a naval oncSr ought TO be we
the mess-room of every vessel shat flies our flag
just about that time John Paul Jones happened to
her % the Continental Congress- talking French i
vi ladies. An imp or satan asked nm
T Mf' john paul Jones was Just ready enough just
g4 ana we its great mercy to this
country that Mr. Adams's politics are not as Eng
fish az his French is
Ths story may have come u the lapse Of time 10
be a little exaggerated. as Mark Twain said the
story of his death was and the sequel may have
been merely political coincidence. though again il
and too Witty saiiorrnan from the James River
tobacco plantation aWay a9W IN Al any
name the officers for the new navy. " didn't name
the FIRST OF the six captains or the second or the
sixth. The author Of the Navy was put among its
further rank from the continental Congress TIN he
nag bs ToIr pardon for this long aggression You
see I'VE been fumbling around in effort TO make
whom whom ought to be speaking at this moment in
stead OF seeming to roll his Job off on me. But |
self. too. The truth Is on an occasion Ike this
American Navy has always been done by the ships
themselves.
WORDS AND ACTIONS
There are still some OF US here who can remem-
nent and TO use the reprehensibe slang OF the
day. made even the rest OF the world sit up and
leans. and next steamed straight up Mobile Bay
wheg soe aSxos soul begged him to be very
careful about the torpedoes. We can all remember
more eloquence of that sort when Dewey. turned
out Of as ntS SG ff srbo ts
we can remember Of II when Sampson and
good old Captain Philip and sohey and Bob Evans
encountered the gallant and chlVarlc CerVera AT
Santiago.
But in the whole history of Navy It has never
spoAn in more thrilling tones than II has this very
day 1t has Just been reunited, on our own shores,
without loss accident after an unparalleled voy-
age In neace and honor and everincreasiug friend
illness ali around the Continents OF North and
South America and then clear round the world. It
is home again, in the historic harbOr of Hampton
Roads Just in time celebrate the birthday OF the
Father of his Country. In the most impressive and
Inspiring naval review Of our history before the
present occupant OF Washiugton's chair, and as
strong and helpful a friend our navy had.
when those ultraviolet battleships saIuted
5at-f Of hair mas
other shot like the Emerson celebrated. heard
round the world