New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-16
SHIPS AND MEN
READY, DANIELS
AND DEWEY SAY
Secretary, on Defensive,
Points to Fleet as An
SWer to Critics.
GLITTER OF WAR
AT MAYORS DINNER
Admiral Fletcher and $50 Aids
Pleased at Welcome to
New York.

Father Knickerbocker broke the
bread Of welcome with the officers Of .
the Atlantic feet last night, when the .
Secretary of the Navy. Admiral /
Fletcher, $50 OF his subordinates and /
500 New Workers attended the Mayors /
grape juiceless dinner az the Waldorf
Astoria. The pomp and glitter Of war
filed the dining room. All the naval
men we're in their full dress OF black |
and gold, and militia and regular army
officers in their regimentals combined
with them to tighten up the sombre
hue of the civilians attire.
In addition TO the guests, a hundred
members Of the 7th Regiment, in their
familiar uniform Of gray, were present
as a guard of honor The dinner itself
was strictly masculine, but before II
had started the gallery surrounding
the room was filed with women In
evening dress, who kept opera glasses
trained upon the tables throughout the
whole evening. The national emblem
was the ground note In the scheme OF
decoration.
Room Draped with Flags.
Flags were draped from the walls
and hung festooned above the gallery.
Above the speakers stable the Star
Spangled Banner waved violently all
evening, tossed and beloved by the
blast of several electric fans. Above
it had been placed the coat-of-arms
OF the United States, fanked on either
side by the shield of New York. The
tables were buried beneath sheaves OF
roses strewn so thickly that 1t was
hard to see the cloth.
At the conclusion Of the dinner
George McAneny, the Acting Mayor
proposed toast to Chat great citi-
zen upon whose wisdom and we'll bal
anced purpose rest to-day the hope
and reliance Of the nation-President
wilson" This was drunk standing.
Mr.. McAneny then expressed his
gratitude both in his official capacity
and as a citizen Of New York TO Secre-
tary Daniels for sending the feet here
and for the friendly, whole-souled way
in which the feet has welcomed u.s.
He disclaimed any technical knowl-
edge Of naval affairs, but added, 81
may say that we New Workers. have got
the decided impression that the feet
anchored in the Hudson most salts
factorily expresses the efficiency and
powerful defence Of the country for
which it stands. and that IL It ever
should be called upon. which we all
hope and pray it may not, 1t will we'll
justify our confidence"
Daniels Refers to Tribune.
The applause which greeted Secre-
tary Daniels was By no means vocifor-
Gus. Once or twice in the course of his
address he received hearty approval
when referring TO prospective increase
in the strength of the navy. His at
tack upon the National Security League
for its comment upon the efficiency of
our fleet fell fiat, and was greeted by
only a few scattering handclapplngs.
In referring to the submarine arm OF
the navy Mr.. Daniels quoted The Trib-
une:
"The run Of the submarines from
Pensacola, north, shows" he remarked,
"as The New York Tribune says, that
this is the most effective unit in our
fleet"
At the conclusion Of his address the
Secretary read a letter which he had
received from Admiral Dewey, in which
the hero of Manila deplored the fact
that he could not come to New York
for the celebration, thanked the city
for the hospitality it had shown the
fleet. and recalled gratefully his own
reception in 1899 on his return from
the Philippines. The admiral also
praised the morale and equipment Of
the feet. His message was cheered
| loudly.
"Our navy is good; it is not good
enough" asserted Mr.. Daniels. with
your help, as long as | am Secretary
| of the Navy, we will try TO make it
| better. The navy is strong; it is not
strong enough. With the help of the
whole American people, with the help OF
| a Congress and an administration thor
oughly committed TO the policy OF
taking leave TO be strong upon the
seas we will make 1t stronger.
New Era for Navy.
"With the praise Of great city
| ringing in our ears" the Secretary
continued, with our mighty ships in
their splendid strength lying just out
/ side; in this hour of natural and par
| donable exultation in our great navy,
as the head of that navy | feel Il right
to utter a word of warning. lest we
forget to those who may feel inclined
TO rest too secure on this visible and
outward display Of our strength. Al
the same time | wish to speak word
of promise and cheer TO those who,
perhaps, have looked too despondently
upon the task that still lies before US
in our efforts TO reach as near as pos
sible TO perfection.
This review is not the end OF a
century's labors. We do not here ex-
hibit our completed work. Rather, we
here begin new era, supported by the
Chief Executive and BY an enlightened
and progressive Congress, which gave
evidence of its faith in a strong navy
by the passage of the best navy bill
/ "a ,La bis-orv Of YOUR country.