New Britain herald., 1928-10-26
NATION 10 OBSERVE
 NAVY DAY OCT. q
Anniversary of First Resolution
 to Authorize Waships

" dUIlIV1lAV II OuupS
 U. q Navy recruiting officer m this city. John J. Bergin. has re- ceived from the navy department at Washington the following statement concerning the history and purpose of Navy Day. which will be ob- served throughout the nation on Co., tober. 27:
 Navy Day was first sponsored in 1929 by the Navy League of the United States, an organization of pa triotic individuals animated by a de- sire to place before the public. in- formation concerning our navy. Oc- tober 27th was chosen as Navy Day by its sponsors for two reasons. It was on October 27. 1775 that the first resolution to authorize Ameri can warshipA was introduced into the Continental Congress, which measure was very shortly afterward authorized.
 october Fl Is also the anniver- sary of the late President Theodore Roosevelt who developed much of his life to the establishment of a sound American naval policy. He 1t was who wrote a splendid naval history of the war of 1912, and who later as assistant secretary of the navy. and still later as president de- voted his energies to impress on the American people the necessity of an adequate navy and of its primary importance as the first line of de- fense.
 'Official endorsement of the ob- servance of Navy Day was given by President Harding in 1922, and, throughout the country patriotic so- cieties and individuals cooperated enthusiastically to make this day a day Of understanding for the pco- pie of this country. of the merits of their navy.
 Visitors Welcome Aboard Ship
 It has long been felt that not a great many of our people know much about the navy, what it is doing. and of what use it is in times of peace. Only the people on the seaboard see the ships of our naval forces and not many Of them ever get chance to visit them. October 17th h the navy's day at home: visi- tors are cordially welcomed at all n n0 Io -tf,. board ships in harbor. The movies and the, press have loaned their re- sources to show the public by pie lures and timely articles of the navy's activities ashore and afloat. It is unfortunate that nature pre- vents the majority of our citizens from seeing their navy. Could they but see ii, they would be proud Of 1t.
 Our country's international ob- iigations have limited the size of the navy insofar as capital ships and aircraft carriers are concerned; nc actual limit has been placed by treaty on the size and nun Der oi other units such as cruisers, de. stroycrs. submarines and lesser typeA but the representatives of oul people in congress have shown ar unwillingness to unduly increase the numbers and size of the latter types In effect, limitation of all types ol war vessels has been imposed on tho navy of the United States.
 Not all the vessels we have art in full commission Many. particu larly destroyers that were built dur ing and Immediately after the lat, war. are laid up for lack of crew to man them. but these could b. commissioned in case of war. I must be remembered that the live, of these ships are limited: like au tomobiles or any other piece o machinery, they deteriorate witt the passing of time. no matter ho, good care they may receive.
 Despite the limitation of arma ments treaty. the unwillingness t build large numbers of new vessel, and the vessels now laid up, ou ~~'t - oSSbA 0h ClllClCLL 8anixation and guarantee of peace he best proof of this is the universa respect in which this country is hel throughout the entire world.
 Merchant Marine
 For the past few years specia emphasis has been placed on the in terdependence of our foreign trad, our merchant marine and our navs protection. Our present merchar marine is insufficient to carry ou enormous experts; most of it bein carried in foreign bottoms. Tn shipper naturally prefers to ship h goods by the most economical cal Tier, and 1t is a fact that most foi sign steamship lines can be and ar operated at less expense than com peting American lines. The reason for this state of affairs are man and varied. the principal one bein lower labor costs abroad in buildin and operation. From the bushes - = -