The daily morning oasis., 1920-01-06
BATTLESHIP ARIZONA
GETS SET OF SILVER
Mayor of Mexican Border Town,
Many Times Under Fire, Tells
Story of the Launching
NOT A PROHIBITION AFFAIR
Champaign Bottle Broke, But Water
With Spill From Roosevelt Dam
Withstood The Shock
New York Times, Dec. 28.)

tion was made by Captain l.. w. Mix,
who has been Mayor of Nogales for
three terms, and who represented Gov
ernor Thomas E. Campbell of Ari-
zona.
Several hundred persons, repre-
senatives of the State of Arizona,
friends Of the officers, officers of the
various ships in the yard, and of the
Brazilian cruiser Sac Palo we're pre-
sent on the afterdeck of the Arizona
to witness the presentation.
AS six bells struck the officers and
crew were brought to the deck,
where, under canopy that covered
the three fourteen-inch guns the Sill
yer service was displayed, with a
naval guard of honor around it.
Captain John H. Dayton, who is in
command of the Arizona, introduced
Captain Mix as resident of No
gales, which is on the border line of
Mexico, and who, as resident of that
place, had been under fire more times
than many of us veterans of the
great war;"
After giving a brief description of
the endeavors Of the people of Ari-
zona to have one of the three new
battleships in the course of construc-
ton in 1914 named after their State,
Captain Mix went on to tell a new
story in connection with the lounch-
ing of the ship.
"When the time arrived for the
launching, Governor Hunt then being
in the chair, made me the Chairman
of the committee to go to New York
to be present at the christening cere-
monies. One of the party carried a
bottle of water, the first over the
spillway of the Roosevelt Dam, and
he wanted to have this broken over
the bow of the Afizsna at the launch
ing. We were received by Secretary
Daniels at the Navy Department,
and by President Wilson at the
White House.
"The morning of our arrival, the
newspapers had large headlines say
ing that the battleship Arizona was
to be christened with water, and that
375 bluejackets had refused to ship
on her if it was done. During our
reception, Secretary Daniels asked
Governor Hunt if he saw the article
about the. .bluejackets refusing to
ship on the Arizona to which the
Governor replied:
Yes Then Secretary Daniels said:
WELL Governor, notwithstanding
that, we leave the question entirely
to you whether it is to be water or
otherwise The Governor turned to
me and said the matter was entirely
up to the committee, of which was
Chairman. l accepted the passing of
the buck and replied: well, Gov
ernor, our committee settled that
question before our party left Ari-
IONA, and our decision is that the ship
will be christened in the good old
fashioned way-with champiagne.' "
The water member of the party
Captain Mix said, felt crestfallen
about this decision, but Captain Mix
said, 81 relieved his feelings by tell
ing him that he could hang the bot
lie of Roosevelt Dam water-or any
Jther dam water-on the same cord
with the champagne"
According to Captain Mix the bot
tie was prepared" at a jewellers, and
when the time for the launching ar
rived, and Miss Ross swung the cord
with the two bottles, the bottle con-
tanning the champagne broke. Some
one in the crowd said ooh the bot
tie of water did not break" and some
one else said: "Of' course not, it was
not intended to-"
"When the bow of the ship arrived
at the end of the ways" Captain Mix
said in conclusion, ga tall bluejacket
drew up the bottle of water and drop
ped it into the river and the good
ship Arizona went on her way witt
lonor."
"I am for great navy" said
United States Senator Henry F.
Ashurst of Arizona in his address.
Zone of the first votes l cast was for
great navy. When look about
and see all these submarines, battle
ships and destroyers feel glad, for
it has been sea power that has won
wars. We must not have navy that
is Gus; lalge enough but one ;apabic
Of protecting our entire coast and I
had hoped to have league that
would have prevented war. but I am
fLr beth, large league to prevent
war, and large ravy."
Captain rayroD accepted the gift in
the name of Secretary Daniels, and
for the officers and members of the
crew. To Captain Mix he said. Gao