Evening star., 1925-09-13
FOUNDING OF NAVY
WILL BE OBSERVED
l5Oth Anniversary to Be
Commemorated by Navy
League Oct. 27.

Approved by President Coolidge
and assured of cooperation by the
Navy Department and scores of
patriotic and veteran organizations,
the Navy League of the United
states is preparing for fitting OBJ
servance Of the 150th anniversary
of the Navy, October 27.
That date has been designated
Navy day" The Navy League, with
headquarters here, is an organiza-
ton composed of civilians who be-
lieve in the Navy as ''the first line
OF defense; the right arm of the
state Department, the safeguard Of
the Monroe Doctrine and a great in
dustrial asset"
Ships of the Navy will hold open
mousse on the anniversary of its In
ceptlon. Wherever there is a ship
In port 1t will be dressed" for the
occasion and open to the inspection
OF the public. Navy yards and other
naval establishments also will be
thrown open to the public. Ship at
sea and unable to make port, will
dress and, although a holiday can
not be declared, proper cognizance of
the anniversary will be taken by the
commanding officer before the crew.
Designed for Education.
The purpose of Navy day primar-
ily, is to diffuse the knowledge of
what the Navy is, of what it does
and of its high traditions and honor
able accomplishments, all in order
that the people may intelligently
Judge of their need for a Navy.
Robert w. Kelley of New York is
president of the league, and Walter
Bruce Howe, of this city. is vice
president and national chairman of
Navy day. The league now is pre-
pairing a program of observance in
washington at the monuments of
It's heroes, at the navy yard and
aboard Government ships that are
at the dock here. An elaborate pro-
gram last year was Cancelled out of
respect TO the memory of Secretary
OF Agriculture Wallace, who had just
died
During the century and a half of
Its existence said an announcement
Yesterday from the league. the
United States Navy has rendered
services of the greatest value to the
Nation. 1t helped during the Revo-
luton to establish the independence
of the Jnited States. In 1775.
shortly after the Colonies took con-
certed action to redress their wrongs.
the Continental Congress appointed
naval committee and because prompt
action was necessary in those DAYS
the committee reported a program
which the Congress adopted. ships
were bought and converted into men
o1-War and put to sea and engaged
IN actions. all within the space of
eight weeks The Alfred was the
lrst OF these ships commissioned and
John Paul Jones, who is by COM
mon consent called The Father OF
Our Navy was her first lieutenant.
Triumphs Are Recalled.
THE Navy's triumphs during the
War of 1872 We're the only American
victories except that at New Orleans.
which was fought after peace was
declared. Gen. Lee attributed the
defeat of the Confederacy to the
Union biockage established by the
Navy. The Spanish american War
was largely naval war. In the
World War the Navy took our boys
across"
In letter to Assistant Secretary
T. Douglas Robinson, requesting CO.
operation OF the Navy Department
on Navy day, Mr.. Kelley said.
our naval expenditures have been
compared 10 premium payments on
national insurance, and if the com.
paflson IS Just the people should know
Whether these expenditures are in
proper proportion and providentIy laid
out IN this connection 1t may be
useful to compare the naval premi-
ums paid Just before the outbreak of
the World War with those we are
paying now and the risk which was
insured II years ago with that of the
present. In reaching an accurate
comparison allowance must be made
for the diminished purchasing power
OF the dollar. When that is taken
into consideration, it appears from
the statistics currently published by
Government departments that in
those IL years our foreign commerce
has increased by over rs per cent.
and that while formerly no more than
TO per cent of our exports and i'm
ports were carried in American ships,
our American merchant marine is
now carrying nearly 40 per cent Of
this increased oCean-bOrne American
commerce. our present naval estab-
llShment IS greater both in personnel
and tonnage than 1t was in 1914.
Making the same adjustment Of the
intrinsic value of the dollar. out Navy
today costs only about II per cent
more than 1t did II years ago.s 1t
seems clear that our present expendi-
lures are well justified, especially
when we consider an increase in ma
tional wealth more than proportionate
o the increase of over 100000 in
our population"