Evening star., 1922-03-28
SALTY BANQUET
HELD BY 4ALNAvS'
Secretary DENLY and Assist
ant Roosevelt Speakers in
Hotel "Wardroom."

q possible 40 naval officers stationed
here, met in the Raleigh Hotel last
night for the first time as social
unit and staged a zippy "get-to-j
gether' in salty, old wardroom style.
Distinction, formality and prece-
denee were dropped by the wayside.
They never got past the portals Of the
| ballroom where the banquet was
spread.
| Secretary DENLY was there. So was
assistant Secretary of the Navy
| such good time they would never
| have known they were official per-
| sonages. And yet the whole banquet
passed OF In a style which did not
| detract in the slightest from the Dig
! nifty OF the Navy.
DENLY Near End Of Line.
1t was Just the opposite to what
banquet Of the erstwhile imperial
been: When it was all over one of
the last forms seen in the line for
hat and coat was the towering bulk
of the Secretary of the Navy.
Gina gine Admiral Won Tirpitz or one
of those once-great naval officers run
ming last in a field Of about 400 for
his hat and coat.)
There's no real, news story to it at
all. They just met and had a good
time and listened to few words
which were surprisingly few, consid-
eTng how banquets generally go
from the Secretary and the assistant
secretary and departed laughing and
shaking hands with one another.
An Army Of Glooms.
One enemy was spurlos versenkt.
1T was an army of glooms nesting on
the cornices of the ballroom. They
always drop in to try to squelch the
nrst attempt at social gathering.
The band from the Washington navy
yard sent these enemies under right
at the start with jazz selections and
popular airs.
Commander Cleary demonstrated
| much at home directing the destruc-
tion of viands as directing fire con-
troll on a battleship by the manner
in which he handled his job as toast
master. He introduced the secretary
and the assistant secretary.
Gives Heart-to-Heart Talk.
Secretary DENLY gave a brief re-
sumo of his first year at the head of
the Navy. 1t was a hear-to-heart
desire to meet officers of the Navy
other than the flag officers, who are
always around his office. He said
that he sees enough of admirals and
rear admirals during the working
day down at the Navy Department
and that he wanted to meet a few
more of the lieutenants and ensigns.
and that he wanted to know them
personally.
There was one point in his address
where he broke away from the dia-
logue and said:
II love the Navy. And I thank God
that after a years intimate acquaint-
ance with the Navy 1 can still say
that I love it. I'm proud of it. I'm
prouder of the officers and of the en-
listed personnel Of the Navy now than
l ever thought I could be.
Working With Everybody.
zone thing we must not forget.
We're not working for anybody.
We're working with everybody, and
we're all working under the govern
ment of the United States. the gov
ernment of the people of the United
when the time comes for me to pass
on and have another take my place, j
may be able to look at each man of
the Navy and look him in his eye and
say: I know I have treated you
fairly"
After that speech. there rang out
the Navy yell and cheers for DENLY
just as though he were playing foot
ball again. And after the cheers the
whole group sang, Hes jolly Good
Fellow"
Cheers for Roosevelt Also.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
summed up what he considered the
characteristic assets Of the Navy man.
He named them as courage. honor
and singleness of purpose. He spoke
for a short time and concluded with
the statement that he considered it
privilege to work with men of the
naval service.
The Navy yell also went up for him.
And he also was voted Jolly good
fellow" to the tune of the well known
song.
Ralph Bingham of Philadelphia and
Miss Elsa Ryan, at Keith's this week,
entertained.
Another feature of the gathering
were radio concerts, from various
points in the United States, received
in the ballroom via a large radio re-
ceiVing outfit.