The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-16

I
| (By maii) second batch
of graduates of the Royal Aus
tralian Naval college at Jervis
/ bav will leave the commonwealth
soon TO Join the Grand fleet in the
North sea. The cadet midshipmen
turned out this year number twenty
nine. Not one OF the lads failed In
the final examination. Last years
class joined Admiral David Beatty's
warships in February, 1917.
| IL was Jervis bays initial contribu-
ton TO the commonwealth navy, or
| in this war the British navy. The col
lege is only about five years old. 1t
began with temporary quarters at
| GeeIong, near Melbourne, and in 1915
| 1t took up it's permanent quarters at
Jsrvis bay, an ideal spot for such an
institution. about ninety miles down
the coast from Sydney. When the
latest graduates reach the North sea
Australia will be represented there by
some fifty Jervis bay youngsters.
The graduation exercises of the
class OF 1917 took place at the college
on December 10. Captain Grant, COM
mandant, said In his annual report:
II have received several most salts
factory reEorts--both official and un-
officIai--with regard to the officer
like qualities of the midshipmen who
left the college for the Grand fleet
this time last year | trust that the
midshipmen who are passing out this
year will emulate their example"
Rear Admiral Sir William Creswell,
Father of the Australian Navy"
made the graduation day speech, In
part as follows:
British Nays Achievements.
You OF the fourth year are greatly
privileged to be entering the greatest
service tina world has ever known
entering II at the time OF its greatest
trial In the greatest war the world has
ever known. That indeed is a won
derful opportunity---to be part OF that
splendid armament that at this mo-
ment il the shield OF the empire, hold
ing Oft its foes, and at the same time
r. the pivot on which rests the whole
power of the allies against Germany
and the central powers in this great
struggle, This is the third, If not the
fourth, time that the navy has saved
England and the empire from con-
quest and Europe from enslavement.
II has once again proved itself to be
the great champion OF human liberty.
Have you not just cause for pride In
Joining such a servtce9
But great as has been the work
OF the navy In war. In peace 1t has
DEeH great Also. 1t mas swept knG
seas clean Of piracy the world over
At great cost OF money. and. too. OF
many lives. It has suppressed the slave
trade. And, more, II has surveyed ana
charted the coasts OF the world--not
mind you, to reserve that knowledge
for ourselves for the advantage of our
traders, but TO give Il freely for the
benefit of the whole world and every
trader under every flag And as a
minor and pieasurable duty any yes
sci Of any nation In distress and in
need OF help has always had 1t from
a British ship OF war in a position
to reach her
The British Interpretation.
THAT was the British Interpretation
Of the phrase freedom of the seas
to which others are trying to give a
different meaning. They wish 1t 10
mean that while their armies may be
free to do whatever they desire with
the people and property of every land
they may devastate and destroy by
their occupation on the seas. those
who have the power 10 DO so must
not in any way interfere with the
transport of everything that goes TO
feed and strengthen those armies. To-
day again the navy ia the service to
decide the fate of the world. The two
greatest fighting forces in the world
today, the two that are making It's
history, are the German army and the
British navy--the German army raised
for offeuse, for conquest and fos ag-
erosion; our navy. maintained for de
Tense. Each Is characteristic Of their
respective peoples and of the manner
in which they are raised.
Eldest Form of Mother Navy.
You have possibly noted that I
have spoken OF the navy. not OF the
royal navy or the royal Australian
navy. and for very good reason. Al
the present moment they are one. 1t
would be difficult to express how
thankful I am that this Is so. That
was what we maintained and strove
for, against many OF an opposite way
OF thinking, that our Australian navy
should be one with the royal navy
should war threaten. And here again
l would have you all remember that
our small navy--eldest born of the
mother navy--inherits directly all the
great naval traditions that have made
England's navy what II Is, We I'M
Australia are no less directly descend