The Bismarck tribune., 1933-02-25
The winning essays follow:
GEORGE WASHINGTON AND
THE NAVY

OAvWlO0 VIII IeCeIv0 u each.
The winning essays follow:
GEORGE WASHINGTON AND
THE NAVY
By Dorothy Larson
George Washington to most Of US
Is the great general, the great or
ganiSer, the unselfish true patriot,
and the first president.
Very few Of US think Of him as the
founder Of the United States first
navy.
It was the plan and mature judg-
ment Of Warrington, the general and
naval strategist, combining land and
sea power In q master stroke that
could have been conceived only by q
master naval mind.
When Washington gave his annual
speech to congress he said:
ITO secure respect to q neutral flag
requires q strong naval force organ
lied and ready to vindicate It from
assault or aggression"
One Of the first problems which
faced washington in organizing q
navy was how to get necessary muni-
tions and equipment.
Entirely on his own responsibility
he fitted out q small fleet Of ships
to prey on enemy commerce. His
words are:
'Sei0e all ships laden with soldiers
arms, ammunition or equipment"
This move on the part Of Washing
ton may be regarded as the first move
towards the creation Of q navy fol
the United States.
BY November 5, Its, there were siS
small armed vessels operating In
Washington,S navy, serving the double
purpose Of reducing supplies to the
besieged British at Boston and the
replenishing Of the poverty-stricken
American army.
New England was the first section
to clamor for naval protection, as was
natural because Of its commercial &C.
tivitieS.
During tho revolution Washington
moved to New York, where he again
organized another little fleet Of three
vessels.
His success on the water at that
time was confined to the smart work
Of his regiment Of fishermen who
rowed his retreating army from Long
Island to New York.
AS the revolution advanced, the
New England region, where . consid-
erable maritime trade had been de-
veloped, became the strongest advo-
cate Of . real navy for the fighting
colonies.
Washington. realizing that his own
countrymen for many reasons, sucn
as want of money, shipbuilding plants
ETC.. could not possibly supply the
vital naval superiority he required
to win the war, sought and ob'
tained France as an ally, who with
her powerful fleet finally made York
town possible.
washington was the first comman-
der.in-chief Of the navy. Before the
Continental congress got around to
the important undertaking Of provid-
ing the colonies with sea defenses'
General washington, using his powers
as commander-in-chief at the siege
Of Boston, organized q little navy OF
his own to cruise about the waters OF
Massachusetts Bay.
The supreme test Of the naval
strategist Is the depth OF his knowl-
edge OF the close relation Of sea power
and land power, and the truth that
the base Of all effort afloat should
be directed at an effect ashore.
During Roosevelt's administration
tho globe-circling voyage Of q fleet
Of American battleships was made
This cruise Is noteworthy in naval
history. It proved not only the ex-
pert seamauship Of our navy, but
also impressed upon the nations our
naval strength.
one Of Washington's greatest say
ings u:
.1n time Of peace, prepare for war"
and this he did.