The Washington herald., 1922-10-28
Asks Navy Day Banquet.
.ers to Aid Fight for
National Fleet.
FORECASTS DENIAL
OF NEAR EAST BID
Naval Chieftains, Politi-
cal and Society Leaders
Hear Defense Pleas.

The United States will remain
aioof from all foreign entangle-
ments"
This keystone policy was voiced
by Secretary Of Navy DENLY In the
face Of the coming Near East peace
conference At Lausanne and numer-
Gus suEgestions for a world econ
omic Conference at the Navy League
banaret at the New willard Hotel
last night. The dinner was the cul-
nalnating event of a series Of local
observances and celebrations ma
tionally. Of Navy Day. More than
$50 naval officers and members q
the Navy League were present.
The broad jaws Of the league OF
nations trap were set to defeat the
United States" declared DENLY.
But the trap was not sprung. The
United States has remained free
from alliances Of any kind. and will
continue to shun such entangiing
alliances. The voice Of the AmerI-
can people has been heard on this
subject through the 1920 elections
when the policy Of foreign alliance
went down to absolute defeat Il
has been needed"
Pleads for Sea Defense.
At the same time. Secretary
DENLY made an appeal for an ade-
auate American sea defense. He
deprecated the continual hght'' o.
Congress against "one of the great
est branches of the government
declaring that -the United States
should not fail below the relatively
of strength assigned TO IL under the
arms conference naval treaty.
Prominent figures in interna-
tionsl. political and business life.
officials OF nayies from hve gov
Washington were present in thu
throng that attended the dinner.
the nineteenth in the history of the
Navy League.
Robert w. Kelley. president of
the Navy League or the United
states. presided at the dinner.
Henry Breckenridge was toastmas-
ter. Foreign speakers included
Lieut.. Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Il. n. and Samuel Harris. president
Of the Navy League of Canada.
Rev. Canon William L Deyries
gave the invocation.
Lord Mountbatten Speaks
Lieut. Lord Louis Mountbatten.-
cousin OF King George of England.
was one OF the guests Of honor He
paid high tribute TO the manner IN
which the American navy threw
away its routine and conformed TO
the practices OF the British navy
during the war" The American
naval forces he said came to Europe
mot to teach us how we ought to
have fought, but to fall in with the
English policies
Urged 90 Keep Up Navy.
All speakers Joined in an appeal.
Tor money enough TO keep the ma
chinery OF the American navy In
good working order. The United
States has played with desting
many times-the ocean barrier has
now become an avenue of attack
the nations of the world will keen
up their ships IL they are wise
declared Secretary DENLY.
Admiral r. E. Coontz said he
found the same conditions existing
today as forty years ago. The
other day picked up my scrap
book and found that in $50 the
Naval Committee of the Senate was
considering a reduction in the navy.
Since that time we have never
caught Up. Nineteen times in the
past forty years we have graduated
tha midshipmen from Annapolis
ahead Of time. but we are still he
hind" He explained that in 1859
the Navy was cut 10 l.aC9 oficers.
1000 men, and practically no ships.
He urged the Navy League and all
lother patriotic organizations to
press for an adequate navy and
merchant marine.
Col. Robert NJ. Thompson. hon
orary president of the Navy League.
was among the speakers.
In the receiving line were: Rob-
ert W. Kelly. president Of the Navy
League; The Secretary of the Navy
and Mrs. DENLY. Colonel Thompson
and Samuel Harris. president Of the
Navy League OF Canada.
Music was furnished by the United
States Navy orchestra under the d.
rection Of Charles Bsnter.