El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-05-11
WILSON, 8 WAR
SPEECH IS told

sea when ] know where the nest Isl
and know that the nest Is breeding
hornets as fast rs I can find them.
am willing for my part and know
you are willing because I know the
stuff you are made of am willing
to sacrifice half the navy Great Brit
ain and we together have to crush
that nest, because II we crush it the
war is won.
Il have come here TO say that do
not care where IL comes from, do not
care whether Il comes from the
youngest officer or the oldest, but
want the Officers OF this navy TO have
the distinction OF snyinE how this war
Is going TO be won.
Il am ready 10 put myself at the
disposal OF any officer in the navy
who thinks he knows how 70 run this
war I viii not undertake TO tell you
whether he does or not. because ]
know that I do not, but ] viii under
take TO put him In communication
with those who can find out whether
his idea viii work or not / have the
authority 10 10 that and I viii do Il
wit the greatest pleasure.
7 wish that ] could think and had
the brains TO think in the terms Of
marine warfare, because I would feel
then that I was figuring out the fu-
ture history Of the political freedom
OF mankind. I DO not see how any
man can look at the flag OF the Unit
ed States and fail having his mind
crowded with "reminiscences Of the
number Of unselfish men, who have
died under the folds Of that 5eauti-
ful emblem I wonder II men who do
die under IL realize the Distinctions
they have.
There is distinction in the privi-
lege and I for my part am sorry to
play SO peaceful a part in the business
as I myself am obliged 10 play, and 4
conceive it q privilege 10 come and
look at you men who have the other
thing TO DO and ask you 20 come and
tell me how this thing can better be
done; and we viii thank God that we
have got men OF originative brains
among us.
eve have got to throw tradition TO
the wind.
"As I have said. gentlemen, take
Il for granted that nothing I say
here viii be repeated and therefore
I am going to say this.
every time we have suggested
anything 10 the British admiralty the
reply has come back that virtually
amounted 10 this, that Il had never
been done that way and / felt like
auyiug7 Well nothing was ever done
80 systematically "a nothing a. being
done now Therefore, I should Ike
10 see something unusual happen,
foreg and innHmuch rs the thlnEr that
are being done to you were never
done before, don't yOu think It q
worth While TO try something that
was never done before against those
who are doing them TO youf
There is no other way to win.
America is the prize amateur nation
OF the world. Germany g the prize
professional nation OF the world.
Now, when IL comes TO doing new
things and doing them vel, I viii
back the amateur against the pro
tessional every time. He knows so
little about Il that he is fool enough
10 try the right thing The men that
do not know the danger are the rash
est men
please leave out OF your v0eabu-
larry altogether the word prudent
Do the thing that a. audacious 10 the
utmost point Of risk and daring, be-
cause that g. eNuctlV the thing that
the other side does not understand.
i think that there are willing ears
70 hear this IN the American navy
and the American army because that
Is the kind OF folks We are We are
getting tired Of the old ways and
cOvet the new ones
7 am not discouraged Tor Q mo-
ment, particularly because we have
not even begun, and without SAYING
anything in disparagement Of those
with whom we are associated IN the
when we begin. II they do not. Amer
lean history will have changed its
course; the American army and navy
VIII have changed their character
There viii have 70 come q new tradi-
ton into q service which does not do
new and audacious and successful
things"