The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-10-28
(Official City. State and County newspaper
Tho Navy and Navy Day


/ Navy day cSprcsscs tic prido % VIZ United Ssa,ca
N 4 personality and an ia5tltutioil. II combines the
birthday Of Theodore Roosevelt, whose relationship 70
.hc navy came to b. somewhat That Of apostle OF INC
maritime defense OF tho nation. and it stresses the rise
again OF The country to Tho stature OF a na7al po"ct
Because or roo5cgei"s fcrvid faith IN this arm OF inc
national defensive preparedness and his efforts rs an
official and pubiciSt 10 promote al cfficions ii3Atlng
organization Oh thr waters. his natal day mas osoh
DESIGNATED as a national day to be devoted to making
and keeping the American people navy minded. ~ IS an
appropriate combination.
]. The navy has a right to expect from tn" American
people the respect OF having a special day ct aside III
It's honor. 1t has achieved an enduring fame from us
very birth i'll the Revolution, with the victory of John
Paul Jones. Gown to DcWcy at Manila and the victory
81 Sctley and Sampson in the las. great battle OF us
fleets at Santiago III the Spanish American war. III every
sonflict of the nation it has silonc lustrou5. The long his
tory OF its engagements has been a record largely o.
victories, but whether victory or adversely crowned rs
arms, it always has acquitted Itself in deeds Of cpl,
bravery ard fighting rcnown.
Who canno. but thrill over the triumph Of John Paul
zones and his valiant ship Eonhomnae Richard? The
nation preserves Old Ironsides because Of the i%nviaciblo-
aess or that cid batter OF the war Of 1912. Then there
are memories Of Decatur and Eainiridsc, the heroic
:ommodorcs OF their day. whether in daredevil exploit
against the pirates of the Earbary states or IN victory
after victory over the mistress of the seas in 1872. And
what a gallant memory Lawrence left i'll his dying plea
1t Boston. Don't give up the ship!' Into the crowded
scroll Of fame on which the story Of that war IS recorded
Its also the triumph OF Perry on Lake Eric. with his
srcen -timbered homemade fleet Of mcn-of- Hsr and his
message, "Wc have met the enemy and they are ours
Those were the mos glorious days III the life OF the
American navy.
II 1872 was a period Of fighting fame, later days Of the
navy find their rcnown in th. pioneering Of new IN
truments Of naval warfare. The first Of these vas tbs
Mo.ltor-"cheesc box on a raft'-oac OF the innovations
which in the time of the Civil war revolutionisad tho
lavics OF tho world. This was the day OF Farracut. an
,thcr of the great naval figures Of the world for all time.
let him be remembered. too. today, when the roll OF the
treat sea batticrs is called.
Still later IL was the u. S. navy which pioneered the
submarine. that terrifying monstc: Of n, World war. and
,svc the navies Of the world a new instrument Of var
are. for a time it's most s,,beiic and dreaded, with its
capacity to sink tho largcs, warsl,ips By a single blow
II It's deadly torpedocs.
Now the navy, true to precedent and tradition. Is max
ng Of aircraft an adjunct of sea war methods by air.
3lanc carriers. and other navic5 arc following suit. It
Experimental with the ram and with Zilnssia dynamite
cruiser vcsuvlus. both OF which became obsolete when
{ was attempted to use them in the Spanisa-Anaerica
var, although the principle of the ram had been en-
,loycd with success during the Civil war. Thus the Uni
cd States navy has a proud distinction in the develop
nent of innovations introduced into the worlds naval
4ulpment and warfare.
The navy. as an organization of the country's mill
artistic department. came into existence shortly after
he declaration of colonial independence. As early as
October. ITS. congress authorized the construction Of
NO national cruisers and at the same time appointed a
marine committee to administer naval affairs. The first
.orcc consisted Of two ships of "A Guns each. six briggs
carrying 10 to u guns. two schooncrs each with eight
runs. and four sloops. three of 10 guns and ono of four.
These were purchased craft. badly fitted and built and
81 eoc1sfftriarflv oriiinnNS acd n1arnnd ESot. R0VkinS Was
made commander in chief ard John Paul Jones was
me Of his licutcnants. In November. l776. the grades
n admiral, vice admiral, rear admiral and commodore
we're adopted but not officially created BY law until 1882.
During the Revolution 600 vessels were made prizes.
The colonies lost II vessels Of war by capture and a little
iquadron Of ~gunboats Oh the lakes. Thirteen ships
xerc destroyed to avoid capture, five were condemned
md three wrecked at sea. The country virtually was
Without q navy between 1880 and 1895.
The depredations of the pirates of the Barbary states
eyiyed the navy. congress In 1894 ordering the construc-
Ion Of six ~frigatcs. four armed with A Guns and two
nth 80. The Berbers having made peace the force was
pduced TO hall.
At first the navy was q part or the war department,
nut In 179s tho department was organized separately,
Nth It's own secretary. It was ut first administered
~ this secretary and . board Of commissioners. but it
low Is on q bureau basis. each with . head.
70 George Bancroft. the historian, goes the credit Of
founding the excellent naval academy at Annapolis, IN
to16. while secretary Of the navy. In 1884. the war col
zee Tor officers 1t Coasters Harbor. Newport, r. l..
MS Added.
Tf,s present navy owes its resurrection to william
Chaudler. Of President Arthurfs cabinet, and what
she hagan was carrisd forward BY william g. whitney in
~ succeeding cabinet Of President Cleveland. It was
nmall beginning. but In subsequent administrations
ortes o. splendid battlsships and cruisers was added.
gk&e 0panish-American war gave renewed impetus to
xfklfng Of formidable battleships and swift cruisers Of
11Set fighting capacity. The resulting naval race which
Hod d~evelcping With other nations has come to !
rS1Eil ~ the present. owing 70 the negotiations be-
%nfn6 With til conterence at washington . few years
1 o1 about - b repeated u London IN January. for
l~tnitatton o. naval construction on ! basis Of parity
~ washington was expressed IN the British.
- ethes uAtions retto u s-5-3.