Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-06-02
Fire When Ready.


than had been known hitherto he
understood better than any other the
philosophy of readiness. You may
fire when you are ready. Gridley,' is
an epigram that has lived and Will live
for all time History has no prece-
dent for the uttered faith in Gridley's
Judgment and in Gridley's courage
which Admiral Dewey put into that
historic utterance upon the eve of the
victory that was the wonder of the
world. Some have wondered that this
quiet command of the commander-ln-
chief at the battle of Manila Bay should
have so captivated the country, but, II
it is analysed in meditation, it will be
understood. 1t is an epigram brimful
not only of confidence on part of the
one in chief command to next in au-
thority. but it also expresses gener-
Gus desire that the second in command
shall share in the responsibility and
the consequent glory of the battle.
"The American people liked that
kindly may on the part of the great
Commodore, who, even as the first
breez of battle began to blow in his
face. did not feel under the necessity
of using the stern military must
which was his prerogative TO have
used. 1t was a grand permission
rather than an autocratic command.
Just as Dewey trusted TO Gridley's
wisdom, so Gridley was strengthened
in the day of crisis by the knowledge
that the men behind the gun-the un-
named heroes whose skill, fortitude
and courage made that and every
other naval victory possible-were as
brave and alert and as dependable as
any captain or admiral who ever COM
manded a ship. Dewey and Gridley
understood there could be no readiness
to fire and to win victories unless the
ships whole force was prepared for
team work. Readiness is not individ-
ual: il is cooperative.
you will find, young gentlemen, that
when the call comes to you for action
| there will be no time in which to get
ready. Unless you have. in the per-
| Torrance of your duties, made prepa-
| ration for the supreme moment, ii will
| be too late to prepare when the sum-
| mons comes. You heard the call of
| preparation for naval service when you
entered the Academy. You have estab-
| lished here your fitness for commits
| sion in the navy. | congratulate you,
| the members of the graduating class,
| that you have responded to the appeal
| of your superintendent and the AGA
| demic Board to lift higher the stand
ards of the institution The Superin-
tendent, the Academic Board and all
| your instructors have sought to instill
in you the high sense of loyalty and
| chivalry which have ever characterized
the officers of the American Navy. 1t
is a mater of national congratulation
that you have measured up to faith
which the authorities have reposed
in you, that you have set standard of
department and scholarship and obedi-
| ence to orders for the classes which
will come after you. and that you will
take with you into active service the
spirit of making ready today for the
duty of tomorrow
| 81 rejoice with you that the Presi-
dent of the United States, your Com
manderin-Chief, has honored us with
his presence. When he was a boy his
| ambition was to enter this Academy,
| and devote his life to the naval profess
| sion. Sometimes | have wondered.
| when confronted with the greatest
| problems that have come to any Presi-
| dent since Lincoln, whether the Presi-
| dent has not earnestly wished his
youthful dream had been realized. If
with the weighty matters which can
| rest upon no one but the Chief Execu-
tive, he would probably today be cap
tain of the New Jersey. He might
have been happier, but he could not
have wrought so much for the Navy as
in his great office where he has been
| privileged, and happily, to take leader
ship in measures to make our country
strong upon the seas.
81 congratulate you that you will re-
ceive your certificate of graduation
| from his hands. AS it is presented.
and with it your detail of duty. | COM
| mend to you, as a maxim that should
guide you in your future career, the
words of Admiral Badger. when he
sailed with the Atlantic fleet, under
sealed orders, to Vera Cruz: 81 do
not know what we will be called upon
to do, but we are ready"
Next on the program came the pres
entation of the diplomas. and before
handing them out, the President made
a short address, the keynote of which
was DUTY"