Evening star., 1914-06-05
Tells Naval Academy Gradu-
ates Duty of U. S. Is to
Serve World.
SITUATION IN VERA CRUZ
is CITED AS AN EXAMPLE
Total of 154 Midshipmen, Some
Destined to Serve in Mexican
Waters, Receive Diplomas.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
ANNAPOLIS Md. June liberalization
ceremonies of the Naval Academy were
held in the big arinory this morning with
President Wilson as the central figure
of the official party who occupied seats
on the stand The President dehVered
an address before the graduates ana also
handed out the diplomas. One hundred
and ffty-four midshipmen received the
coveted "sheepskins. Not all of these
however will get their commissions as
ensigns in the navy. as there are dozen
or more who have been found phy ysicaiiy
disqualified and their commissions are
withheld pending the outcome Oh re-eA-
aminations AS the President delivered
the parchments he greeted each OF the
recipients with hearty handshake.
President Wilson's Address.
The President told the graduates. many
of whom leave shortly for Mexican
waters that the mission of the TINTED
states is one of service to humanity
not of ACKNOWLEDGMENT nor conquest. lie
declared the duty of the United States is
to serve the world
Speaking of the Vera Cruz situation. the
President reverently declared: pray
God the boys there will not nave 10 hshi
any more" He added that the real
good they will do will be their impression
ON the Mexicans-
They are not stuttinG and clustering,
he went on. The people OF vera oruz'
who despized and hated Americans.
will think differently Of them when our
boys leave
REGARDED as Sample Americans.
President Wilson said. in part:
1t ought TO be one of your thoughts
all the time that you are Sample
americans-not merely sample navy
men. not merely samples, but sample
Americans-and that you have the
point of view of America with regard
to her navy and her army. that sne IS
using them the instrument OF CIVIL
ization not as the instruments OF aS-
gression. The idea of America Is 10
serve humanity, and every time you iet
the Stars and Stripes free to the "lno
you ought to realize that that Is IN IL
self message, that you are on an er-
rand which other navies have some
times forgotten-not an errand OIL con-
quest but an errand of service.
What do you think is the lasting inn
preston that those boys down at Vera
Cruz are going to leave? They have had
to use some force-I pray God 1t may not
but do you think that the way they
fought is going to be the most lasting
impression? Have men not fought ever
since the world began? Is there anything
new in using force? The new things in
the world are the things that are divorced
from force. The things that show the
moral compulsions of the human con-
science. those are the things by which
we have been building up civilization, not
by force. and the lasting impression that
those bows are to leave Will be that they
exercised self-control.
Champions Of the Right.
You must bear in mind that YOU are
the champions of what is right and fair
all around. no matter where you are. and
that it is for what is right and fair. for
public welfare, that you are ready to
tight for. and not merely on the drop
of a hat or upon some slight punctillo.
but that you are champions of your fel-
low-men."
The President praised Admiral Fletcher,
saying he had been on duty longer at
Vera Cruz than the other commanders
and that he had the qualities of a states
man.
After the ceremony the President
watched the graduates go to their
quarters and the former 'plebes'' run
10 take possession of Lovers - lane He
ate luncheon with Capt. Fuliam and
PLANNED To leave for Washington at :;
% clock
Roar of Guns Greets President.
Tie President and mis- official party con
s5stiI;g of Secretary Of the Navy Dan
;els. the Presidents private secretary,
Joseph Tumulty. and Dr. Grayson. ar
rived at Annapolis shortly after s o clock
this morning after all-night trip
from Washington aboard the yacht May
flower. The arrival of the executive was
greeted wiki an almost continuous roar
of guns. The national salute of twenty
ore guns fired from the ships of the
summer cruising squadron at anchor in
the bay and the station ship Re,na Mer-
cedes.
The presence of the President attracted
perhaps the largest crowd that ever at
tenced graduation ceremony at the
naval institution. The audience was
made up of parents. relatives and friends
of the Iuidshipmen who have been here
FOR the weeks ceremonies, and others
who have Just arrived for the farewell
bail tonight.
Graduates Choose Officers.
At a meeting of the Naval Academy
graduates yesterday the following Off
GERS We're elected: President Rear Ad-
Inirai ]. II. Upshur. Al: board of con
troll. Col. r. NJ. Thompson. '6s: Com
niander G. II. Burrage, 's7: Commander
=. ". Chandler, IS: Lieut.. Commander
William w Phelps. 's9; Lieut.. Com
rHander ]. F. Hines. '9c: secretary and
treasurer. Prof. d. NJ. Garrison
The national and brigade flags were
presented to Cadet Lieut.. Commander ].
y i-aycock. commanding the Sth Com
pany of the Brigade of Midshipmen at
the dress parade yesterday