Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-06-04


development Of the submarine has been the
marvel OF our generation. Its precision OF
aim, its deadiiness Of execution, its ability 20
do its deadly work and disappear in a mo-
nent challenge the worlds wonder The
Sixty Third Congress expressed its faith in
the submarine BY voting the money TO build
twenty-six new submarines, three OF them 20
be sea-going Of a size and power never be
fore contemplated. What OF the future OF
this newest naval arm? He would be rash
man who would in prophecy limit its possi
biiities. Edison said the other day that while
he would not lend his genius to making war
fare worse. save in case his country was
seriously threatened. some way would be
found 20 protect ships from the eject OF the
torpedo. and he added "A ship might be so
nted thar It would not sink after being hit
I should not be surprised II a big change
comes about in ship construction. but you
may he sure some way viii be found to or
set the torpedo. The submarine has been the
one great offensive weapon Of this war. May
it not be that a graduate Of the class OF
1915 viii be the naval constructor who will
invent and build a submersible battleship
which shall Ere when at the surface OF the
water. then dive, reload, and emerge to FIRE
again?
try came to Washington, and, at the Naval
Observatory studied and worked with Amer
lean scientists to determine the difference in
latitude. Wireless messages exchanged be-
tween Paris and Washington. a distance OF
three thousand miles, demonstrate the per
fection reached in that wonderful aold OF
science. The $. 0. s. call has reduced the
torrors Of the deep. Wireless is so common
that We are inclined TO forget that ii is the
miracle of the twentieth century. And who
shall put metes and bounds to its wider use?
You young men who graduate here today
as you contemplate how discovery and inven-
tion through electricity, chemistry. and ma
chinery have changed the Navy. can grasp
the mighty changes by contrasting the Navy
Of today and the Navy of George Dewey. Our
beloved Admiral of the Navy. whose name
will shine among the stars with that Of Perry
graduated at the Naval Academy in 1855
He made his first cruise on the wooden steam
frigate Wabash
You. young gentlemen. come into the Navy
ia the golden age of its achievement For
the Navy man has conquered the air, and tho
sea he has made all science the slave Of
warfare he has annihilated distance. Science
and skill make one man in command OF
dreadnaught the equal OF a regiment and the
superior Of the whole fleet Of Dewey's mid
Young gentlemen You today become off,
GERS in a service that is safely anchored in
the confidence Of the American people. The
recent review in New York demonstrated
both the power of the fleet and the admira
tion the people have for it and its men
Upon his return from the review. President
Wilson. Commander-in in Chief, made this OH.
cial declaration:
= was greatly struck by the appearance
of the fleet and the quiet efficiency shown by
the officers and men, as am sure every one
must have been who had the pleasure OF see
ing it assembled at New York
There could have been no more interest
ing verihcation Of Admiral Dewey's state
ment that the Navy was never in a better
or more efficient condition. and that the coun-
try has every reason 20 not only TO be proud
of it. but every reason to wish TO 20 forward
IN its policy Of steadily adding to its strength
and equipment"
WIN the Navy Of your day, when 1t will
be much larger and much more powerful
make as much improvement as has marked
the days Of Dewey, the midshlpman to Dewey
the Admiral? 1t will depend upon you. 1t
IS to the Naval Academy that the country
looks for the men upon whose training skin
and resource must depend the excellence OF
to construct mighty dreadnaughts and cruis-
ers and destroyers and submarine and the
necessary craft to give us a welI-proportioD
cd fleet, but after all that may be said about
the imperative need OF the best eouiprnent ~
material, in its last analysis our Navy must
depend upon the men who are charged with
the construction and direction OF the fighting
ships Never were the requirements so high
as in our modern Navy
I congratulate you that you have meas
ured up to the difficult standards and con-
gratulate the country that today we add ITO
officers to the Navy. It is with you to deter
mine who will obtain the goal Of four stars,
the attainment OF which the last Congress
made possible II could be gifted with the
spirit OF prophecy. / would call the names
of those Of this class which shall be written
with the illustrious admirals Of the past
This power has not yet been conferred, but
il is easy TO name the qualities and achieve
ments which will bring high command and
pave the way for fame
In addition to clear head and good
heart and a sound body-the trinity OF IN
| dispensables-the chief equipment which
naval officer should bring into the service IS
| self-mastery Master" is one Of the great
words Of the English language. We 20 the
| limit OF compliment when we call one
"masterful' man. And now again, in the
back and-all Of the game Of war, the captors
are themselves besiegedein the stronghold #
cost them 50 much, In ammunition and hu-
man life and strenuous exertion, to capture
When the present great war is over the man
most honored will be the man who captured
the citadel Of the enemy.
There is something IN letting the men un-
der you-junlor officers and men, too-realize
that you feel that all are parts Of a great
| machine a great institution
But self-mastery must be attained II you
would be worthy Of the noble heritage that
comes 70 every American privileged 10 enter
the naval service. 1t Is noble profession
into which you are admitted Truth and
courage are illustrated In the lives Of the
men who have made the Navy. These vir-
tues adorn the lives OF the men who vel
come you to fellowship. II IS a glorious
company Of which you become part.
1