Evening star., 1927-10-27
CAPITAL TENDERS
Il TRIBUTE TO NAVY
Wilbur Leads Observance
With Speech Stressing Prog
ress of Sea Forces.

Secretary Wilbur today led the
Capital in the observance or Navy
day by voicing an urgent plea Tor
an adequate Navy, essential to the
maintenance OF our foreign commerce.
equipped and ready for instant
action"
Addressing a large assembly OF
Government employees and other
citizens at the east eide of the Navy
Building. Secretary Wilbur called on
America and Americans to develop
seanower and the merchant marine
with a view not only to protecting
orr commerce and coastline. but to
lncreas sing prosperity in time of peace
Outlining the growth Of the Navy
from Colonial times to the present
the Secretary pointed out that the
period Of modern renaissance of the
United States Navy dates from 1he
Snanish.American War. when interest
IN the countrv's first line of defense
began to grow under leadefshlp vi
Theodore Roosevelt.
Welcomes Suggestions.
Mr.. Wilbur is presumed TO have re-
ferred to the Admiral Magruder in
cident when he said:
THE department welcomes sugges'
tions from officers, men and clVll per
snnnel for the betterment OF the Navy
and. as YOU know, offers rewards 10
civil personnel for such Suggestions as
seem worthy of special consideration:
I believe that the people OF the United
States have today q better understand.
ing OF the functions and utilization OF
the Navy than they have ever had
heretofore, and that Congress VIII oe
disposed to grant the Navy such fea-
sonable appropriations as may he
necessary for the needed increase ol
the fleet"
The Secretary continued:
"Roosevelt's order sending the fleet
around the world after the Spanish
War added to the interest in the Navy.
so that at the outbreak of the Worio
War. we had a good sized Navy IN
commission. and a building program
which would have made this Govern
ment the first navy power in the
world.
since that war, the policy of the
country has been to have Navy
equipped and ready for instant service.
I
propriations for that purpose. The
steady growth of our foreign COM
,nerce and the widespread interest in
that commerce, not only requires
large Navy, but had increased the
general interest in n Navy, essential
under our form of Government to the
maintenance of such commerce.
Organization Lauded.
You here in the Navy Department
are part of the great organization eS'
sential to the preservation of that
property and to the management of
the Navy. 1t may seem that nearly
. 1000 employees in the Navy Depart
ment is an unnecessarily large num-
Der of civil employees for the opera.
ton of the Navy, but it is the belief
of the Secretary of the Navy that
while shifts and changes in the naval
organization are not only possible, but
are constantly under way, the main
tenanee of this large organization is
essential to the prompt and efficient
management of the Navy at sea, the
shore stations and the efficient CO.
operation of the Navy with Congress.
In speaking to this organization,
may say as Secretary of the Navy, /
expect each individual here, by en-
thusiasm and devotion to duty, to
render full value to the Government
for the compensation received and to
be able to justify his retention before
any congressional committee or in
vestigating board. believe that you
have tried faithfully to conform to
the Presidents wishes in effecting
economy and reducing expenses. and
that the Budget Bureau and the Presi.
dent appreciate the sincere effort here
made"
A company Of marines from GUAM
tico saluted the navy chief as he APP
peared. The Quantico Marine Band
orchestra played patriotic selections.
Walter Bruce Howe, Of the Navy
League, presided.
The Navy Department exercises,
held early this afternoon climaxed a
series of patriotic ceremonies held at
various points throughout the city
this morning. during which America $
pioneer naval heroes were eulogized
by prominent speakers.
These included commemorative pro.
grams at the Maine mast, in Arlington
National Cemetery; before the statue
of John Barry. in Franklin Park; at
the memorial to Admiral Dupont. in
Dupont Circle, and in front OF the
John Paul Jones Monument, at the
foot of Seventeenth street.
Fries Eulogizes Hero.
At the latter ceremonies. Brig. Gen.
Amos A. Fries, national president OF
the Sojourners' organization, under
whose auspices the program was car
ried out, recalled the heroism OF the
.'father of the Navy" and, on behalf
of the Sojourners. pledged the or.
sanitation to respect q MS OF
lme. liberty and happineZ ~, dear
by John Paul Jones.
Admiral Luther E. 0E ~ACS, presi-
dent of the Washington Chapter, pre-
sided. Chaplain &. H. Dickins. L. s.
n, delivered the invocation. A wreath
was placed at the foot of the statue by
Can't. George +. Unmacht, national
secretary.
The Washington Navy Yard held
open house to visitors during the day,
and official guides We're furnished to
the hundreds of men, women and
school children WHO passed through
the gates for an inspection Of the gun
shops and ships. Public sct!ool chill
dren were permitted, by SPECIAL order
of the Board of Education, - leave
their classes and visit the yarG,
Hardly had the big iron gates.
which stand against public Intrusion
into the navy yard during most OF tne
year, been thrown open at O'Clock
this morning, when people of Wash
ington and vicinity swarmed through
them to get a glimpse Of the Navy
and it's activities. There were babes
in arms and aged men and women In
the crowds that moved from point to
point in the yard. School children by
the thousands came in buSSes ana
were escorted through the yard and
ships. 1t was the annual celebration
An, L nftnrtiDrl u q