Evening star., 1911-06-02
Diplomas Are Awarded Men,
berS of Class of 1911.
SOON IN NEW UNIFORMS
Graduates Rejoice at Completion Of
Four Years Course.
NEED OF AN EFFICIENT NAVY
Possibility Of War Emphasized in
Address Of Assistant Secretary
Of the Navy Winthrop.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, June 2.-"Out of the
wilderness. out Of the wilderness. and no
more rivers to Cross" sang the members
OF the class Of 1911 as they wiggled and
twisted through the long armory at the
Naval Academy in a joyous serpentine
dance today. With the coveted diplomas
for which they had worked hard the last
four years. and which they had only a
short time before received from the hands
of Assistant Secretary of the Navy Beck
man Winthrop, waving aloft. the young
officers marched through the yard and
thence into Bancroft Hall. where a rapid
change was made into new uniforms.
These uniforms are different in cut, and,
OF even more Importance, bear q narrow
band OF gold on the sleeves to show that
the wearers are passed midshipmen."
With the armory we'll filled, the brigade
OF midshipmen, minus those about to
graduate, paraded on the main floor un-
der arms. The graduating class marched
In separately and took the seats assigned
them shortly after 10 o'clock.
Opening Of Exercises.
The booming guns of the short battery
had announced to the town that the
United States steamship Dolphin. bearing
Assistant Secretary Winthrop and an
official party, had arrived from Wash
tngton during the night, and that all
was in readiness for his coming ashore.
When the party reached the outside of
the armory the word was passed inside
the building that all was ready. Imme-
der command of Lieut.. w. Steele, came
to attention" while the band>played a
few strains from a military march as
the officials. headed by Supt. John II.
Gibbons, Mr.. Winthrop and the formers
personal aid. Lieut.. Adolphus Andrews.
marched down the length of the room
and took places on the platform
Capt. Gibbons Immediately introduced
Representative Lemuel p. Padgett, presi-
dent Of the board OF visitors. who de-
graduates
Need Of Powerful Navy.
Expressing the belief that any future
war in which the United States may en-
gage will largely, If not entirely, be de-
cided by a battle or battles on the sea,
Mr.. Winthrop said he was strongly i'm
pressed with the necessity Of maintaining
a minimum any danger OF losing control
Of the sea-
Graduating at twenty-five you will
have about forty years Of active service
before you. and although we are all most
desirous that war shall not check the
peaceful progress OF the nation, we must
recognize that this country since Its in
ception has never enjoyed forty years OF
peace uninterrupted by war. The aver
age period between wars OF this country
has been only q few months over twenty
nine years. SO II anything like this ratio
Is preserved in the future you will prob
ably see active service.
Understand me, that / am most de-
sirous Of continued peace. and sincerely
trust that the agitation for arbitration
treaties and an International tribunal
with adequate power to enforce it's or
dained DEGREES. will bear fruit but he
who believes that International peace has
arrived and that no more wars will Oc-
cur enjoys an optimism greater than
can acquire.
THE control of the sea will, in my
opinion, be the crucial turning point Of
any war In which We may be engaged.
and 1t, is, therefore. evident how incum-
bent IL will be upon you SO to maintain
the material and personnel allowed us by
Congress that it may always be at the
highest point Of efficiency"