Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-10-23

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ANUHA MI right and fitting. The spirit and
AYWWEww accord with those of national holidays
&EEEV peculiarly own
Navy Day of 1925 particularly deserves
pa+ionuide observance. The nation is still
mourning the Shenandoah disaster, with Its sad
deuing loss of devoted Navy airmen who gave up
their lives in the line of patriotic service Ihey
were 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 that the next
slaughter 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
Navy Day.
Again the nation is still thrilling with the air
and sea epic 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;
afloat for nine days on the ocean; given up FOR
lost; courageous hopeful and cheerful through
storm and hunger and thirst; under sail, on their
way Ind in sight of their goal when found! Sueh
liz the American Navy aviator 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, unarmored live-oak sailing ship
carving 24-pounders in broadside. Now the cap
ital ship is the oburning, 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 vs. airpane
President Coolidge has appointed an able nvesti-
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 pre- eminently fitting on Navy Day.
NAVY Day this year is the hundred and
Aftieth anniversary of the very beginning of our
NAVY October 81 1775, Marine Committee"
reported to the Second Continental Congress
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-
ary 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 holsted yellow silk flag with
the device of pine tree and rattleshaKe ana
the MOTTO Don't Tread on Me- The Grand
Union flag was also run up--thrteen stripes with
the English union jack in the Held And there-
upon Commander Hopkins and his squadron OF
eight converted merchantmen sailed forth 10 give
Nght TO Great Britain Mistress of the Seas,
Sncb Is the beginning of the United States Navy,
which, with the progress OF the nation mas grown
TO eighteen battleships, with hundreds OF lesser
warships and auxares manned by 5000 of1cers
and $4,000 enlisted men.
NAVY Day is a national day which all good
Americans can celebrate with willing mind and
an approving conscience Its official purpose Is
primarily "to dlffuse the knowledge OF what tne
Navy is and of what it does and OF It's high tradi-
lions and honorable accomplishments all IN oruer
that the people may intelligently Judge Oh thelr
,aod for Navy" Navy Day can be made day
~ warm the cookies of every good American heart.
There Is dash OF salt water in the blood OF most
- nc tbat makes us rather fond Of the Navy