Arizona republican., 1920-12-05
Republican A. p. Leased wlrel

NORFOLK, Va, Dec. An Amer ica pre- eminent in maritime com merce, cultivating friendly relations but iealously determined to defend its rights was pictured by President elect Harding today as he ended ms vacation and turned to the task of formulating policies of his adminis- tration.
 In a half dozen short speeches, he asked for a government aided mer- chant marine that would make the United States "the greatest maritime nation on earth" and for navy fit to be the first line of defense for people "everlastingly determined to defend it's commerce and it's rights"
 He also spoke for an international peace understanding that should not sacrifice American nationality and ] took note of his presence in the south l by forecasting a national unity that would have the people of the old Con- i federacy understand that that's only i memory"
 The program of entertainment and 1 speech making arranged by Norfolk and Newport News to celebrate the home coming gave MT. and Mrs. liar ding one of their busiest days. After l they stepped off the Pastores. which had brought them back from the Canal Zone, they were kept on the move until late at night. when they left for Bed ford, Va, where Mir. Harding speaks tomorrow. In addition to numerous functions they visited the shipyards al 1 Newport News, the Norfolk naval base
 and army base and the navy yard at Portsmouth, and reviewed special drill of ten thousand bluejackets al Norfolk.
 Believes in Preparedness
 It was in a short talk to the blue jackets that MT. Harding voiced his
 belief in adequate naval preparedness
 and in a nation "everlastingly deter mined to protect American interests.
 He expressed, however. a hope tha'
 they never would have to fire a gur
 for their country.
 1 His stand for a pre- eminent mer'
 chant marine was expressed in speech
 es at Newport News and at Norfolk
 Stress also was laid on the nationi
 commercial expansion and opportu
 mites of Hampton Roads in an ad dress here tonight.
 Mir Harding emphasized the auxil
 iary military importance of a stroni f merchant marine and charged that tn
 chief opponents of an American shil
 subsidy in pre-war days were agent of German steamship lines. , The senator and Mrs. Harding. ab
 sent since November IS, came ashor
 at Newport News al lUs 3U a.. m. afte a greeting by naval and .cornmercia craft. Ashore they were received wit , similar acclaim, crowds cheering then
 and city officials extending them al
 courtesies.
 . In his talk at the training statioI g Mir. Harding declared his heart seldor Q has been so warmed as by the privi s lege of reviewing such body of younl e American manhood.
 Q Trained to Live for Country }. T have felt just a little specia : rejoicing" he continued. "to know tha you all are here as volunteers. Tn
 greatest thing in life is service an Q the greatest achievement in life ? the highest service one can give. Hoy e fortunate if is that our civilization ha d been developed to a point where yo t are more than trained to defend you y Country-yOu are trained also to liv n for our country.
 - The navy is the first line of Amer
 ican defense. No nation can hope { 1T be eminent in commerce in thes
 times without a naval institution ade q quate to protect it's rights. I want - nation righteous in it's purposes rig o orous in its commerce and then ever l. lastingly determined to defend il e commerce and it's rights.
 ,- T hope you will continue in you ,e devotion and service to your countr
 but | hope you will never have to fiji Is a gun in defense of your country" -e When Senator Harding reached tE