The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-08
NAVY FAREWELL
Is GIVEN TO USHER
Continued from Fret Po2s.

note throughout his stirring tribute to
Rear Admiral Usher.
I'VE honor" he said, mot only Rear
Admiral Usher, but Nathaniel Usher the
man. We honor a great officer OF the
navy. whose services to his country by
no means end with his official retire.
ment but moro than all we honor Ma
thaniel Usher. tho gentleman unafraid
whose service was always ready and
who always smiled.
AS commandant Of the Third Naval
District he had a moro extensive con-
troll of our actual war activities than
any man on this side Of the water. First
Of all. to him must so the credit for the
organization Of that nrst daring patrol
feet which we sent abroad. They were
yachts OF all kinds and sizes which you
New Workers. gave with your Characters
tic generosity. And II was Admiral
Usher as commandant Of this district
who took them over and converted them
In record time-such time that they ar
rived in the submarine zone to do their
effective work in a matter of days, when
some of us expected that It might have
been a matter OF months
Affairs Always Ran Right.
despite the huge activity OF this
port me affairs of the Third Naval Dis
trict always ran right. They ran right
becaLso Of the personality Of the man In
command. They ran right because In
their complicated relation to the other
departments OF the Government, the
army. the Railroad Administration, the
State and city governments, this man.
Nathaniel Usher. was always ready to
s.t,t "a nd
1T has been one OF the Joys of my ex-
perience In Washington to have my mes
senger coms in and say: Admiral Usher
on the telephone. sir That always
meant that Admiral Usher and I could
lift the receiver. cut the red tape and
finally dispose of matters the moment
they had arisen.
This. the great port OF New York,
was the only port where active steps
had to be taken against the attack Of
enemy vessels. We who were in II
always subject TO definite and serious at
tack. Documents which we have re-
Gently received. show that the prepara-
tions We made here were known In
Germany soon after they were made.
That the German attack was never made
shows the perfection Of the steps taken
against It."
Secretary Roosevelt testified to the
large part that Admiral Usher played
in organising and building UP the naval
reserve.
mo officer," he said, Stands higher in
his appreciation OF the broad needs Of
this great democratic country in the mat
ter of defence, and no one more tact
fully, more forcefully and more skilfully
welded the naval reserve, the civilian,
into the trained machine Of the regular
navy"
Pays Tribute to New York.
Rear Admiral Usher in his turn de-
Elected much Of the credit for the excel
lence OF his work here back upon the
shoulders Of Mr. Roosevelt.
ut wac due to him." he said, born
New Yorker. hard worker. keen mind
and charming gentleman, that the doors
Of the greatest city Of the western world
gave of its wealth and of Its resources
to our common task
at was twenty-six years since I had
been In New York when was ordered
here four years ago. But ] have made
friends among you here whom can
never lose. I am going to retire to the
farm. but il your landlords will have
pity or my retired pay I am going to
come here for every winter.
when we entered the war II was not
expected that the port OF New York
would do all the work of getting the
army to Europe and keeping the navy
going. But unless I am mistaken New
York shipped 70 per cent of all the ma
terial sent overseas and so per cent OF
the men went aboard ship here. But
that Is New York-you are always
ready, you always go out In your pa
triotic zeal and meet the Government
more than half way"
The diners got more than the surprise
of the three FOUNDER salute during the
dinner. Just as the coffee had been
served two walters, fairly in the centre
of the room. got into a terrifc row.
They became as Noluble as walters do
only when off duty. And finally one OF
them knocked the other down. There
was an immediate stir through the
tables officers sprang to their feet.
What's this trouble here!' mute red
a gold laced aid as he showed through
the tables to. where trouble brewed-but
before he got there Secretary Roosevalt
had caught the spirit of the thing aid
was tapping on the ships bell with
which he presided in place OF a gavei.
And the tune he tapped was the soft roll
which timekeepers at the ringside play
upon the bell when the FIRST round be-
gins.