The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-27
n ENDD u. S. FLEET PUTS
OUT, READY TO MINUTE.
TO ACT. AGAINST FOE

which they came. II played this
game with civilians should hit some
bullssyAs. but hers. In every instanos
my shot new wide Of tho mark. I
guessed that this man was from
6outh Carolina, Iowa was his state.
Another I credited to Maine; his birth
had done honor TO New Mexico.
All this pushed me. and ! sought 2
solution. could not give ANNAPOLIS
ell the credit, became the chaplain,
who 20 resembled the others 10 breed.
begun his naval career ~ IN enlisted
Iman. but Il gave Annapolis a. good
deal Of the credit, and the rest gave
Ito the service itself.
The Identities were OF the sort that
Ii should like to see stamped upon the
framework OF the average man, upon
his face. upon his body and upon his
manners They were the identiues
which result from learning good hab-
Its 1T an age when the average boy
Iis learning bad habits; which result
i from travel. from standing up
straight, from having normal vision
ana always looking people In the eyes.
which result from common devotion
to something which IN bigger than
any Individual: which result from In
dividual responsibilities almost con-
~sSsS
greater responsibility can be borne In
Yet no two Of them were In the
least alike. The executive omcer
would command a staggering salary
as the head OF a department store:
the navigators passion was Tor great
circles and the stars and clay pigeon
shooting: there WAS one who dreamed
OF ballistics as all dreamed Of their
wives and their babies ana their
sweethearts And there was another,
by no means the oldest, q Ions, driv.
ling man with \ face like IN eagles
whose passion was for tho ship ana
for every rivet, screw thread, lens.
shell, cannon. torpedo and character
that made the ship eflicient and ter
irfbie-AHsd whom all persfedr
AS for the chaplain. II he ever goes
to Billy Sundaying In my town. 1
shouldn't wonder II ] hit the, trail.
1t was he who when one complained
that Ithey had among them nine
daughters and but three sons. COM
forted them by stating that daugh-
| tiers do mot come home smelling OF
iliauor and cigarettes.
u.-Battteship a City.
have said that hattieship Is a
man. It is not II is a city.
| That II is a walled city, defended
by terrible cannon. every man knows
S., / shall not here and now speak
of the magic eyes with which it sees
the approach of the enemy, the thick
armor with which It repeis his blows
nor OF the terrible cannon with which
III returns them. shall speak rather
of ships cooks and bakers. of buglers
and blacksmiths or carpenters and
plumbers. OF printers and electricians,
of surgeons and coppersmtths. of mu-
sicians and baudmasters. OF barber
shops and laundries Of amusements
:.nd gossip. And I shall have some
thing to say Of Justice.
! The government Is tho flagship.
The admirals are the governors OF
states and the captains and COM
imanders are the mayors OF cities and
towns. 1t is a complete civilization.
a floating country. to which the de-
votiou of it's seamen and firemen Is
as necessary as that Of its adrnirals,
captains and commanders.
/ Autocracy Rules Here.
r 1t is not. OF course, republic. but
an autocracy. II has not. however.
the faults and viciousness OF the
usual autocracy. If the admiral who
/; Is over all is ambitious he can only
rise higher through his righteous
ness. He cannot gain even tenn
porary glory by robbing, cheating or
exploiting those whom NE commands.
He cannot use the power OF their or
ganlzation to serve his personal ends
( Fur u ssysi ssAscexx ssst, might be VIII
liam of Germany. but over him Gas II
might be that over William was that
God Of whom he pirates, but who does
not EXIST there IL the Declaration OF
Independence and the Constitution.
The moment that he fails these, they
will fail him.
But to return 70 our city. II diff
fers from land cities ip that it recog-
nizes neither night NOR day. There
are more people awake In the day
time than at night: but the city's eyes