Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-10-15

4HEO peculiarly our own.
Navy Day Of 1925 particularly deserves
nationwide observance. The nation is still
mourning the Shenandoah disaster, with its sad
dening loss Of devoted Navy airmen who gave up
their lives in the line of patriotic service. They
heroes all and the American people may well
stand in a moment of remembrance in their honor.
Doubtless there will be other Shenandoahs. Able
investigators are working to see that the next
Daughter of the Stars is better fitted to cope
with the wild storms of the heavens. Success to
their work." should be the national thought of
Macy Day.
Again, the nation is still thrilling with the air
and sea epie of the five heroic navy aviators of
the Pho, No. l. How gorgeously American is that
epic: Flying from San Francisco to Honolulu;
forced down to the Pacific by exhaustion of fuel;
afoat for nine days the ocean; given up for
lost courageous, hopeful and cheerful through
storm and hunger and thirst; under sail, on their
way and in sight of their goal when foundl Such
is the American Navy aviatorl Give him three
cheers on Navy Day
And, finally, 1925 possibly marks the beginning
of another Of the transitions that have attended
the progress Of the United States Navy. The
superlative warship of its early days was the
44-gun frigate, an unarmored live-oak sailing ship
carrying 24-pounders in broadside. Now the cap
ital ship is the oilburning, electrically-handled
steamship with massive armor and enormous guns
in turrets. And the auxiliary craft range from
collier to submarine and plane-carrier. Today the
question seems to be: capital ship airplane
President Coolidge has appointed able invest-
eating board Of eminent Americans to report to
congress. silent prayer by the American people
that both board and congress be guided by Divine
Providence is prominently fitting on Navy Day.
Navy Day this year is the one hundred and
hftieth anniversary Of the very beginning of our
Navy. October 81 1775, a Marine Committee"
reported to the Second Continental Congress a
resolution outlining program for the purchase Of
merchant ships and their conversion to warships.
December % congress appointed Essex Hopkins
commander in chief, with four captains. In Janu-
airy of 1776 Commander Hopkins went aboard
his flagship Alfred (the merchant ship Black
Prince, armed, and named for Alfred the Great,
founder Of the British navy. First Lieutenant
John Paul Jones hoisted a yellow silk flag with
the device Of pine tree and a rattlesnake and
the motto, Don't Tread on Me-" The "Grand
Union flag was also run up-thirteen stripes with
the English union jack in the field. And there
upon Commander Hopkins and his squadron of
eight converted merchantmen sailed forth to give
fight to Great Britain, Mistress of the Seas"
Such is the beginning of the United States Navy,
which, with the progress of the nation, has grown
to eighteen battleships, with hundreds of lesser
warships and auxiliaries, manned by 5000 officers
and $4,000 enlisted men.
Navy Day is a national day which all good
Americans can celebrate with a willing mind and
an approving conscience. It's official purpose is
primarily ito diffuse the knowledge of what the
Navyis and of what it does and Of it's high tradi-
lions and honorable accomplishments all in order
that the people may intelligently judge of their
need for a Navy" Navy Day can be made day
to warm the cookies of every good American heart
There is dash Of salt water in the blood of most
of us that makes us rather fond of the Navy