Evening star., 1934-10-28
FULL NAVY URGED
| IN ANNIVERSARY
| RADIO ADDRESSES
Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt Says Efficiency Is
at Full Tide.
TAUSSIG SEES SHIPS
BEST AIR DEFENSE
Exercises at John Paul Jones
Statue and Navy Yard Feature
Thirteenth Annual Fete.

The need of building up the Navy
to full treaty strength was stressed
last night in radio addresses by As
sistant Secretary of the Navy Henry
L. Roosevelt and Rear Admiral Jo-
seph K. TauSsig, acting chief Of Naval
Operations Admiral Taussig declared
it the belief of the Navy that the
country's best defense against large
scale air raids from overseas can bs
given by the Navy itself"
The speeches came as a climax to
the thirteenth annual celebration Of
Navy day, which fell on the 159th
anniversary of the Navy's birth. The
day was observed here with an elab-
crate program at the Washington
Navy Yard and other ceremonies
which honored outstanding naval
heroes.
Public Interest Growing.
While emphasizing additional needs
Of the Navy both in ships and per-
sonnel, Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
said:
Under the wise and far-seeing
leadership Of our President there has
been a growing interest in the Navy
by the people of the United States.
Tonight I am happy to report that
the welfare and efficiency Of our Navy
Is at full tide"
The speaker added that this coun-
try is definitely committed" to bring
ing the Navy up to the strength per-
mitted by treaty.
Admiral Taussig, who spoke first
yesterday afternoon and again last
night over the Columbia Broadcasting
System, celebrating on the Navy as
defense force against a large scale
air attack, said such an attack must
come most of the way in ships"
There is no prospect for many
years" he said, "of an airplane being
able to fly here from across an ocean
when carrying a war load Of bombs.
machine guns, ammunition, etc. It
is only when the war load is elini-
mated that sufficient fuel to make the
long fight can be put on board the
plane.
There is, of course. the bare pos
sibility of planes reaching our shores
with a war load by making interme-
date refueling stops. But this could
not be done without first establishing
great air bases, and the Navy is the
best defense against the establish
ment Of such bases"
In his earlier address, Admiral
Taussig declared the Navy is operat-
ing the feet with many of the larger
ships having less than 80 per cent
of the personnel for eficient opera
ton"
Our greatest need at present" he
declared, "is more enlisted men, which
we hope that the Congress in its
wisdom will authorize at the coming
session"
Both Tsussig and Roosevelt pointed
to the need of an adequate merchant
marine. Sea power, it was pointed
out, comprises combatant ships, naval
bases and the merchant marine.
Roosevelt's address was over the
National Broadcasting System.
In an address at exercises yesterday
afternoon at the John Paul Jones
statue, under auspices of the Military
Order Of the World War and the Ma
tional Sojourners, Comdr. w. A. Lee
made a plea for adequate Navy per-
sonnel and equipment.
Even with policy Of bringing the
Navy up to treaty strength, Comdr.
Lee said that with the expiration of
the treaty in 1886 the United States
still will be further below its quota
than any other nations which are
parties to the treaty.
A eulogy of John Paul Jones was
delivered at the exercises by Lieut..
Comdr. w. M. Thompson, represent
ing the Heroes of rs" organization.
The exercises were participated in
by nearly score Of patriotic organ
iZations, representatives of which
grouped the colors around the base Of
the statue and placed wreaths.
Exhibitions at Navy Yards.
The program at the Navy Yard, in
cluding drills. air shows, sham bat
tie and various other demonstrations,
was witnessed by total Of 6,045
persons during the day. Although
this number was considerably lower
than the $4,000 who attended last
year, officials believe last years num-
Der would have been exceeded but for
the weather. Many Of the visitors in
spected the Farragut, the Navy's new
est destroyer, which was brought here
for the occasion.
Many persons also visited the Naval
Observatory, which was open to the
public from 8 am. to 4:30 pm. and
from 7:30 to 10 pm.
Another Navy day program in
cluded drills last night by the three
divisions of the local Battalion Of
Naval Reserves at the Naval Reserve
Armory, featured by the presentation
of a cup and three gold medals BY
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt. The
cup later Is to be awarded to the diyi-
sion showing the best attendance at
drills this year and to those having
the best attendance record In fu-
ture years.
Earlier yesterday q wreath was
placed on the base of the statue of
Commodore John Barry in Franklin
Park in behalf Of the knights of CO.
lumbus by George Z. Herring, state
deputy, Knights Of Columbus In the
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