The Washington herald., 1910-08-04
CUTTER SERVICE
HAS CENTENNIAL
Special 0bseryances Ordered
for Tooth Anniversary.
EVERY MAN A PARTICIPANT
For the First Time I'm History the
Government Has Ordered n Birth
day Celebration for One of Its De-
Dartments-Lieut. Green's Address
Is Fenture OF PrOgrnIume.

From the Gulf TO the St Lawrence and
from Seattle to San Diego. wherever
Uncle Sans revenue cutters cleave coast
land waters vigilantly. to-day will be a
gala day, because the United States Rev
enue-cutter Service was founded just JOG
years ago.
For the hrst time in history the ami
versary Of a government department will
be celebrated by every man In its serv-
ice. After the morning muster on each
OF the trim little vessels that cruise under
the flag OF the service. an address, pre-
pared by First Lieutenant OF Engineers
C. NJ. Green. Z. S. r. c. S. viii be read.
Then the crews and their officers will
stand at attention while bugles play the
national anthem and the flag futters
aloft. caressed by soft trade winds in
Southern seas or whipped BY the Icy
breezes Of the North coasts.
Department Sends Orders.
The Treasury Department has sent to
each commander a programme for the
simple service Of celebration. with a copy
Of the address. an eloquent and dignlfed
history Of the service and its exploits
The remainder Of the day will be a holl-
day.
Seal poachers or opium smugglers.
gentry who evade Uncle Sans import
taxes, and shipmasters who don't believe
in navigation rules viii have an easy day
Of 1t If some one has 'wised" them 10
the fact that this day out OF all the year
the watchful ones will give over to hav-
ing a good time
This is the way Lieut.. Green started
his anniversary address:
'As on July 4. the entire nation cele-
brates the birthday Of the republic, and
thereby fosters patriotic devotion 20 the
country and 10 the flag so it is hitting
that we OF the Revenue-cutter Service
should also celebrate the attn day OF Au-
gust, the anniversary OF the establish
ment Of the service. and emphasize on
that day particularly our pride in its
history and our devotion to its ideals.
80, to-day. on every ship where the
century-old revenue-cutter ensign floats
the day is a holiday. and its fitting OBJ
servance is prescribed by the regula-
tons. The day has thus been officially
recognized by the President OF the United
States and the Secretary OF the Treas.
ury. and it remains only for the officers
and men to invest II with a true spirit
Of loyalty and devotion.
The organization Of the Revenue-cut-
ter Service followed closely the birth OF
the nation. One hundred and twenty years
ago to-day or only fourteen years after
the date OF the Declaration Of Independ-
ence. President George washington sign
ed the act OF the First Congress providing
for the creation OF the Revenue-cutter
Service. This was a small navy. the only
armed sea service Of the government at
. the time, and II was made a part OF the
Treasury Department, to enforce mari
time laws. there being then no Navy De-
partment and no navy. the navy Of the
Revolution having ceased TO exist after
the close of the successful war for indie
pendence. The officers and men Of the
first cutters were to a great extent those
who had fought on the war ships or the
colonies and their good record was con-
tinued in the new organization.
Honor to Pioneers.
Let us give honor to the pioneers OF
our military services. for they appear to
have received but little else. II is clear
that the gallant deeds OF our officers and
men were inspired by some other feeling
than the desire for wealth II must be
with the same feeling that we salute to-
day the flag OF our nation and renew our
allegiance 10 the service
Following the history Of the service
down to the present time. we find much
20 warrant feeling OF pride. II Is a
story Of lighting and vigilance N time
Of war and of the equally brave and
honorable work Of saving life and prop
erty in time OF peace. The regular oper-
atoms of tho service have not only III
cluded the long coast line OF the United
States, but have extended into tho arctic
circle and to the islands Of The Pacific.
There may be those among us who
long for the days OF the Pickerine's
great fight. and would lead the dash OF
boats crew, cutlasses dourishing. and
pistols barking in the very faces OF the
enemy as cheering sailors throw thcm-
selves aboard the decks OF a lighting
foe. But all this has passed with the
time Of the pirate. the SLAYER the bucca-
neer and the privateer This Is the era
Of new and better civilization IN the
maintenance and development Of which
the Revenue-cutter Service must faith
fully perform its part"
The address bears the signature nf
Charles D. Hilles, Assistant Secretary of
the Navy. It pays a glowing tribute
to the new service. declaring II is made
up Of splendid ships and men who are
steadfast and loyal TO the traditions OF
the hghting days OF old.