Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
NATION DEPENDS ON
NAVY In CRISIS
GContinucd From First Pagel

edge and leadership and ability to
shoot straight may depend the fate of
decisive naval engagement"
The secretary spoke as the repre-
sentative of President Wilson, who had
been asked to deliver the graduation
address but had found it Impossible
to come because of the international
situation.
Il bring you the greetings of your
commander-in-chie who sends you a
message of confidence and bids you
godspeed," said Mr.. Daniels. "His
heart is with you to-day. He does not,
however, feel warranted in making
any address in the present condition of
public affairs, even to graduates of
love to unburden himself.
In Vortex of War
You are to receive your commits
sion in a day when nearly all the world
is in the vortex of war and no people
can feel that they may not be drawn
INTO 1t. Your own country faces a
crisis. In this emergency the Presi-
dent. who has declared his belief that
the American navy ought to be incom-
parably the most adequate navy in the
world in the exercise of a discretion
vested in him, will commission YOU
three months ahead of the usual
period. That fact alone emphasizes
the significance of your early grad
uation.
Whatever, in addition to steps al
ready taken by placing armed naval
guards on merchant ships, this country
may be called upon to do, its chief and
first reliance will be upon the Navy.
Fortunately, the country has officers
and men not surpassed in any naval
service. To their number we are add
ing to-day 1873 officers from the Naval
Ap9dnnnV Il
enlisted strength an additional $4,000
from the alert and resolute youth of
the country, who, added to the present
personnel, will give us the finest body
of enlisted men any officers were ever
privileged to instruct and lead.
In Eyes of Country
You come into a service with a
glorious record, resplendent with noble
traditions. You enter at q time when
grave responsibilities fall without days
of waiting upon your young shoulders.
To-day, as not before in a generation,
the eyes of your countrymen are
turned in pride, as we'll as in con-
fidence toward the newly commits
stoned ensigns."
The secretary said that his advice
to every young officer would be, Get
yourself naval hero for emulation
during the years of service ahead. He
declared 1t was by continually asking
himself What would Farragut do?''
that Admiral Dewey himself became
the American naval hero who should
be emulated before all others
The history of Admiral Dewey"
Mr.. Daniels continued, furnishes one
of the many examples that it is only
the man who makes ready in the days
of calm who is fully ready in the days
of storm. A call to duty in the Navy
is ever quick and imperative. Dewey
thanks to having selected Farragut
as hs ideal and making ready every
day of his career-was collected and
capable and cool on the morning he
sailed into Manila bay. He recalled
Farraguts Dawn the torpedo, go
ahead!'
Dewey as Model
Admiral Dewey had duties at Ma
Mia as important, and in some re-
spects more delicate and difficult, after
the battle as in that hour under fire.
He was familiar with the law, and
never by word or action usurped the
function of the civil government,
which must always be supreme in in
ternational matters as we'll as in demo-
cratic rule. People need never fear
military usurpation when administered
by a naval officer like Dewey, jealous
for government by law with the sword
acting only as the direction of the
civilian ruler
There has come, I am glad to say
to You, new understanding of the
spirit of the Navy by the people, as
evidenced by the generous and wise
provision by the last Congress for its
enlargement and strengthening. And
likewise in the Navy there has come
an appreciation of the spirit of the
people as experienced through their
representatives in Congress.
1--WE live in tense times. Great issues
stir the depths of men. Small ques-
tons are shriveled. Questions big with
the fate, not alone of nations, but the
world, may be decided by you. / do
not venture to prophesy what lies be-
fore YOU But whether your early
service is in peace, or. whether you
are called to an early baptism of fire.
there will be always the incentive to
high courage and to daring If in every
emergency you ask yourself the ques-
ton What would Dewey do p