Evening star., 1925-10-27

The American Navy and Theodore
Roosevelt have the same birthday.
This is the day We celebrate for the
Navy and its greatest friend.
At the conclusion Of the famous
world cruise of the Navy instituted
by President Roosevelt there was an
incident characteristic of the leader
who had had the vision OF world pres.
tige for the United States to be gained
by the cruise he had ordered. The
President had gone to Hampton Roads
to welcome home the feet. In the
cabin of the flagship he toasted the
admiral and officers for their success
full voyage, saying. Not until some
American fleet returns victorious from
a great sea fight will there ever be
another such homecoming as this"
When he was taking his departure
from the ship the sailors cheered him
enthusiastically, and at the gangWay
Mr.. Roosevelt turned and said to
them: IF there was enough of me, 1
would cheer for you"
The whole of America, today reiter-
ates that characteristic Rooseveltian
sentiment, for If there is enough
Americanism in our 10 900 900 popu-
lation, there is a Nationwide cheer to-
day for the Navy, in whose history
there is glory enough for all"
=, X X
When Col. Roosevelt returned home
from his year in Africa he was re-
ceived with a great naval demonstra-
ton in the harbor Of New York. Every
vessel in the harbor was dressed i'll
his honor, and both naval and mer-
chant vessels contributed to the deaf
ening din of welcome, while the shore
at Battery Park was black with thou
sands of people. AS the vessel on
whose deck stood the "conquering
hero" fresh from his adventurous and
triumphal hunt in the wilds of Africa
and still more triumphal march amidst
the courts of Europe steamed proud
" through the lanes Of the harbor. the
present writer stood within feet of
the colonel, where he watched his at
titude under such tremendous APP
plause. At first there was the exulta-
ton OF triumph and of pride, natural
to human nature however used to
glory" but in a moment all that
was swept away and the countenance
took on look of great soberness. and
finally tears were coursing down his
cheeks unabashed and unrestrained.
Col. Roosevelt said that it was the
greatest disappointment Of his life
lnaI ne was ilCl " iSdu
division in the World War. Early in
August. 1917, he frankly expressed to
an officer who was to sail for France
the next day his sincere envy of the
uniform and active service orders.
The officer replied:
"Why, colonel, you are needed far
more here at home than you are at
the front. Don't you realize that your
pen is mightier than your sword, and
that you are division, in yourself, to
arouse American"
Came the reply: do you think that?
That is very comforting His tone
and manner were so simple and un-
affected that it seemed as II he were
discovering some wonderful truth.
President Roosevelt'S chiefest in
terest was always in the Navy. AT
the age of "a he wrote history of the
mains today standard among Amer
naval history, and none without &c
tual academy training and sea eX'
perience) knew the details of naval eff
ficiency more intimately than did the
Acting Secretary of the Navy, Theo-
dore Roosevelt, sr." Yet, when the
Cuban War came, his first act was &c
resign the office to take up the fight.
ing in the field, recognizing that in
actual combat the Navy required tech
nical training, rather than unframed
enthusiasm.
Technical efficiency has ever been
the outstanding characteristic Of our
Navy.