Evening star., 1921-06-02
PRESIDENT HOPES
WORLD MAY never
SEE ANOTHER WAR
Tells Annapolis Graduates
He Wants Sword to. Re-
main Sheathed.
SAYS she FIGHTS BEST
WHOSE CAUSE is JUST"
secretary Denby Scores Snob and
Cautions Against Feeling "Fool-
ish Vanity of Rank

ANNAHOLlS, tlu., June S.-Spedhiu6
before more than 5000 persons. in
cluding 1000 students and graduates
OF the Naval Academy, President
Harding today reiterated a hope that
the nation will never again be called
upon to wage war and that friendly re-
lationS of the United States with the
nations of the world may continue.
The President attended the gradual
Ing exercises of the 1921 class of the
Naval Academy held today in Dahl
gren Hall, and personally present ed
diplomas to the go graduates: The
men who We're graduated from the
Naval Academy today constituted the
first group which has taken the full!
four years course since the United
States entered the world war in
April. 1917.
- cannot let the occasion pass" the
President said, without telling you
how happy am to be here The
superintendent of the academy, with
Secretary DENLY. has said something
ABOUT my hono-ing the occasion. That
is wrong. / have received both pleas
ure and Inspiration from being here
Confidence In Graduates.
The President said he had fuil con.
fdence that the $50 graduates had
they would do their full duty on any
occasion that might arise.
But" he said, u hope that you
will never have to draw your sword
or FIRE shot except in the expression
of the friendly relations which we
hone will continue with the nations
of the world. While l am your COM
mander-in-c chief. you shall not be
called upon to fire shot except III
a cause which commends itself to the
American console ence and for which
we feel the responsibility to Almighty
God.
"Don't misunderstood me. We do
not stand for peace under all circum-
stances, but we do feel that one OF
the noblest duties imposed upon hu-
manity is to protect ones own coun-
try"
The President had no prepared ad-
dress and spoke extemporaneously. In
closing his remarks to the graduates.
he said: He fights best who ngnts
justly" -~x-sy~.,
"A good deal is said nowadays"
said Mr.. Harding, about preparing for
defense. / know nothing nobifr In
this world than the defense of ones
own country. That is an inherent
breast by God Almighty. There
wouldn't be any civilization today if
men weren't willing 10 give their all
for it's preservation.
But the preserastion of the estab-
lished order is one thing. while cru
sading for a new order in quite an
other thing. sometimes most nobly
inspired, sometimes most lily ad-
vised. I can believe the ideal for our
country is q sensible blend of the
maintenance of the established order
and the enthusiasm of the crusader.
Secretary DENLY Speaks.
Secretary Denby. himself an enlisted
can war and a private. sergeant and
commissioned officer in the Marine
Corps in the world war, struck new
note in urging that professional attri-
with respect for the enlisted force.
You must so conduct yourself that
your superior in rank shall respect you.
your equals love You and those under
your command obey you with smile"
GERS, but not snobs. Your commissions
are ill-bestowed unless you are free
from foolish vanity of rank.
Pride should be yours, very Just
and honest pride in your uniform. That
that uniform that all must honor it.
"Real Man" Respected.
mo one knows better than 1 with
what great respect the enlisted man
looks upon an officer who is every inch
a man; no one knows better than
with what contempt the enlisted man
views the officer who Is unduly burdened
with the weight of his own Importance.
The enlisted men will quickly size you
up. He wants to like you. He wants
to respect you. He quite properly feels
that he is too much man himself to
want to be comma nded by one lacking
any essential element of manhood"
Reviewing the deeds of the Navy,
Secretary DENLY bespoke in the new
officers a spiritual. conservation to
duty:
4 nf OI
tions of the Navy" he said. you must
dedicate yourselves today to lives of
self-sacrifice and absolute devotion,
Most particularly our country's honor
and material interests are in your
hands.
when the red day comerif come
it must-when in the fame of battle
your souls are taken from you under
our country's flag, you will die as
gentlemen should die, honest and
and glad that you have so lived as
to merit so worthy death"
Can Avert War.
Il do not anticipate, however,
IL you live as officers should live and
II the Navy keeps up its standards
Of material and men," Secretary
DENLY continued, that you will ever
be called upon to offer that great
sacrifice upon your country's altar.
You will be called upon to live for
your country and that is hard. be-
cause it is matter of constant
watchfulness."
Speaking as one who has been
comrade-in-arms with many men,"
Secretary DENLY warned the gradu-
ates to "shun the dangers ashore as
earnestly as you court those afloat"
You think. perhaps. 1 am too seri-
ous," he said. You would not think
so il you were compelled to sit, as l
do, almost daily, in judgment on my
feilowmen and associates in the serv-
ice. You would not think me too
serious IL you knew the heartache it
gives to sign the paper that means
dismissal or dishonorable discharge"
Motors to Annapolis.
President Harding motored to An
napolis this morning to participate in
the graduation exercises at the Naval
Academy. After stopping for short
time at the residence of Admiral
Scales, superintendent Of the academy
the presidential party. which included
Mrs. Harding, went to the armory
where the commencement ceremonies
were held.
Among those who attended the grad.
uation exercises today were Rear Ad-
miral Koontz. director of. operations
u. 8. N, and Admiral Uriu OF the
Japanese navy, himself graduate OF
the Naval Academy. Rear Admiral
A. II. Scales, superintendent of the
academy, presided at the graduation