Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-17

New York, May 16.-Admiral George
Dewey, president of the general board
of the navy for the last Is years, sent q
letter to banquet Of the officers of the
Atlantic feet Saturday night in which he
said that 1.-The efficiency of the feet has
steadily progressed and has never been
so high as it is today" The letter was
read by Secretary Daniels.
Finest Warships
THE people of New York have Just
cause for pride in the fleet now assem-
bled in their harbor," wrote Admiral
Dewey. Not only is it composed of the
finest and most efficient warships that
we have ever had, but it is not excelleG.
except in size. by the fleet of any nation
in the world; our officers are as good as
any: and our enlisted men are superior
in training. education. physical develop
ment and devotion to duty to those of
any otker navy.
"As president of the general board for
the last ID years / can say with absolute
confidence that the efficiency Of the feet
has steadily progressed, and has never
been SO high as it is today.
Should Increase Navy
However, we need more ships. more
officers and more men, and should con-
tinue the wise policy of increasing the
size of our navy, which must remain our
first and best line of defence. This de-
fence, unless adequate, is impotent, and
adequacy is not reached until the navy
is strong enough to meet on equal terms
the navy of the strongest possible adver-
sary.''
Admiral Dewey thanked the city Off
Gals of New York for their hospitality
to the officers and men of the feet, and
expressed his regret at not being able
to be present at the dinner. He recalled
the welcome the city gave him when he
returned from Manila on the Olympia
in 1899, and added that st is a source of
deep satisfaction to known that the In
terest of our citizens in their great navy
has not diminished in the 1s years that
have elapsed since that time
Daniels Defends Navy
Secretary of the Navy Daniels, who
was also a speaker at the dinner, de-
Tended the navy as efficient and prepared
for war. He said:
Our navy is good, il is not good
enough. With Your help, as long as l
am secretary of the navy we will all try
to make 1t better The navy is strong,
1t is not strong enough. With the help
Of the whole American people, with the
help of Congress and an administration
thoroughly committed to the policy of
taking leave to be strong upon the seas
we will make it stronger. This review is
M he of
do not here exhibit our completed work
Rather, we mere begin new era sup
ported by the chief executive and by
an enlightened and progressive Congress.
which gave evidence of it's faith in a
strong navy by the passage of the best
navy bill in the history of your country.
The navy and it's head have been the
target of much criticism of late, some
from those honest in their beliefs, but
sadly ignorant or misinformed, and much
from purely partisan and political sources
which had no interest in facts whatever
AS for such criticisms as concerned my
helf, have kept silent. Time must justi-
fy, or time condemn. The splendid con-
dition of the ships for which you are re-
sponsible. the splendid discipline of the
N-N''S "AAANAA Jo0 nave coldDilSneO, make
today far better answer than anything
l could have been able to say,
Ships AbIaze With Light
Hundreds Of thousands OF spectators
lined Riverside Drive and gathered in
Riverside Park Saturday night to see
the illuminated ships Of the fleet an
chored in the Hudson river awaiting
review by President Wilson on Mon
day, and TO witness a display Of fire.
works from floats IN the river near
where the big ships swung. Band con-
certs were given in the park nearby.
The pyrotechnical display was one of
the most notable in the citys' history,
and marked the close Of entertainment
for the officers and men Of the fleet.
Enlisted men visited the theaters in
the city Saturday night for the last
time during the visit Of the feet In
the afternoon many sailors were en-
tertained at baseball games at the Polo
grounds and in Brooklyn. All day long
the excursion boats on the river car
ried crowds to see the fighting craft
and other thousands Of persons board
ed the various warships.
Addresses Jewish Sailors
In the morning, DR.. s. Schulman,
rabbi Of Temple Bethel, delivered an
address to the Jewish sailors OF the
fleet. He paid tribute to President Will
son in his stand taken in the note to
Germany on submarine warfare.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, chairman Of
the mayors committee. in the after
noon paid an informal visit to Admiral