Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-09-14

s.onal branches.
The Navy Spirit Wins.
When you realize that it takes
four years of hard work, including
nine months at sea, to fully equip a
Midshipman for the many duties re-
quired of an Ensign-you will under
stand that we are not expecting you
to acquire all these qualifications in
so short a time But we have en-
deavored to lay the foundation and TO
give you the elements on which we
shall expect you to build-and thus
enable you to direct your best efforts
toward fitting yourself for such duty
as you may have in hand We do not
expect you to be qualified for all the
duties of an Ensign-but when you
are assigned to duty. we shall ex-
pect you to concentrate all your en-
ergy, intelligence and resolution to-
ward equipping yourself for that
special work The frequent reports
| have received from the Command
ant of Midshipmen, the Director of
Training, the heads of departments and
the instructors, all of whom have
been closely associated with you dur
ing the past ten weeks, have been
most gratifying and encouraging, and
you have proved that our judgment
was not misdirected when we started
this school for Reserve Officers; and
/ feel confident that this school will
ha n valiahla accaf ~ tho Now ~
this time of severe stress. 1t has been
well said that enthusiasm is the
thing which makes the world go
round, and without its driving power.
nothing worth doing has ever been
done.' And for this reason, | wish to
warmly congratulate you gentlemen
upon your fine spirit and enthusiasm
during your entire time at the Acad-
emy The Navy spirit, the Navy
character, the Navy determination
have won our battles in the past and
will win our battles in the future
Therefore, if We have inspired in you
the true Navy spirit, genuine mill
tary character, and unselfiish devo-
ton TO duty. we feel that our summer
has been highly successful.
What Duty Means.
DUTY means so much in the Navy
lit means self-denial, untiring en-
ergy, enthusiastic spirit, resolute pur-
pose, self-sacrifice, infiexible loyalty.
and answering fidelity to your or
ders and to your task Throughout
the history of the Navy, the modest
signal well done has meant more
than all else to man-o-warsman,
and, gentlemen. it is well worth striv-
ing for we'll worth fighting for, we'll
worth dying for, because that signal
means duty well done'-duty to the
service, duty to the flag. Some years
ego. in one of our famous fighting
frigates. an apprentice boy fell from
aloft when reefing topsails during a
gale in the Atlantic. He struck the
lower rigging and went overheard
Quick as flash, a boatswain's mate
jumped overheard after the lad. and
although a heavy sea was running
both were picked up by the life boat
the boy badly injured Later on, the
officers and men were assembled OF
the quarterback, and the Captain
called the b0atswain's mate aft anC
commended him for his courageous
act in jumping overheard and saw
ing the apprentice boy the olt
boatswain's mate replied in thii
homely but illiterate fashion: Cap
tain, seen my duty and likewise
done it, Nothing could have beer
finer; his language may not have beer
choice. but oh, the spirit was there
the high sense of duty was there; TIL
spirit and duty handed down to u
and placed in our keeping by thos'
sterling characters and dauntlesi
souls of the old Navy
Only The Hits Count.
Your careers in the service begin
under the storm conditions of war
and what an opportunity for proving
your metal, your character, your abil
ity, your fidelity. and your devotion
to duty These are days of spirite,
! activity, and all nations are working
tnder full pressure. Therefore b
cheerful and enthusiastic no matte
bow small your task may appear. ami
remember that only the hits count
in every undertaking in life. and thi
| principle applies alike to the perioi
of preparation and to the day of bat
tie. There must be no backing AM
filling on your part in any duty as
signed you; carry 1t out resolutel,
and fearlessly. and get results; OF
in other words, make your shot