Evening star., 1928-10-27

This is Navy day"-also the birth
day Of the man who, above all others,
Is credited as the great friend OF the
Navy''-President Theodore Roosevelt.
It was not merely as Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy that Mr. Roosevelt
rendered 1t his greatest service. When
the Spanish War broke he promptly
resigned his connection with the Navy
and entered the Army, for naval service
required expert mechanical training. 1t
was as lieutenant colonel and colonel
of the Army that he won military fame,
but, nevertheless. one of the most i'm
portant acts when he became Presi-
dent was to cause Congress to double
the size of the Annapolis Naval Acad-
emy, double the number of cadets and,
later, to cause the Navy itself to In
crease Its practical efficiency by active
maneuvers and target practice.
Then. even when diplomatic relations
with Japan were strained, President
Roosevelt, against the counsel of timid
statesmen, sent great fleet upon tour
around the world-an unprecedented
expedition-wh for the first time
compelled the world to recognize the
power and magnihcence of the United
States Navy. The enthusiastic ovation
which the feet received in the harbor
of Toxic did more to avert friction
with Japan than all the diplomacy of
years, and that ovation is still remem-
bered with warm sentiments by all who
earthquake in Japan. 1t was the Amer
ican Navy which was first to bring
aid from the horrified world to the
victims.
oo.>avo;ttnn 80 Norcrne- .~,oe .t,,S.y
ing the needs of the hour, and one of
the members asked a naval officer II
the Navy needed certain cruisers. mo. -
was the quick retort; 1.-THE country
needs them"
There is a radical difference between
the attitude of the Navy and that of
professional pacifists. so ready to criti-
cize the country for maintaining a
strong Navy. THE Navy believes that
peace with justice can best be attained
through trusting in the integrity of
intention of our own country" says
Rear Admiral Frank H. Schofleld.
1.-THE pacif1st desires to see us weak,
believing that this weakness will guar
antee peace. The naval officer believes
in seeing us strong, believing that
strength Is the best guardian of peace,
and that, since in international affairs
we must trust some one, we can best
trust the Government of the United
States. The Navy believes that to be
strong is not to be warlike, but rather
to be effective defenders of a righteous
peace"
It Is a common error in the mind of
pacifists that the officers of the Navy
seek occasions to bring on war. so that
they may profit by action leading to
their own promotion. Nothing Is
farther from the mind OF naval or
Army man than O. desire for war.
For example, take the 5000 Marines
now in Nicaragua, far from the spot
light where heroism might attract pub
lie attention. Nobody knows the names
even of the commanding officers IN that
Jungle. There is no possible glory to be
gained there, yet the Marines FOLLOW
their sworn duty without protest. Has
any one ever found veteran of the
tunity to win promotion through the
dangers and hardships of no mans
land?
George Washington said: ITO be pre-
pared for war is one OF the most eftec-
tual means of peace" Again, In 1896
he said: ITO secure respect to a neu-
trail flag requires a naval force organ
ICED and ready to vindicate 1t from in
suit or aggression. This may prevent
the necessity of going to war by dis
couraging belligerent powers from COM
hitting such violations of the rights OF
the neutral party as may, first or last
leave no option. These considerations
invite the United States to look to the
means and to set about the gradual Gre
alton of navy However pacifiStic the
general policy of nation may be. II
ought never to be without an adequate
stock of military knowledge for emer-
gencies."
But following Washington came Pres