Evening star., 1937-10-27
THOUSANDS Join
IN CEREMONIES TO
OBSERVE NAVY DAY
Sham Battle and Aerial
Show Expected to Draw
Record Crowds.
PEACE WITH HONOR
is ROOSEVELT THEME
Varied Program at Yard to Be
Given From s to STA O'Clock.
Tribute to Be Paid Heroes.


Roosevelt that war will be avoided by
all honorable means" the Nation to-
day turned to a celebration of Navy
Day, the birthday anniversary of The
odore Roosevelt. The Washington
Navy Yard-focal point Of the Dis
trict's obServance-prepared to be
host to more than 100000 persons be-
fore sundown.
In New York the Navy laid down
the keel of the S60,000000 battleship
North Carolina, the first vessel of
its kind to be put under construction
since the World War.
In addition to all the usual fanfare
at the Washington yard, three new
features ar being presented today
King Neptune's Court, a privilege
usually reserved for voyagerS crossing
the Equator; massed buglers of the
Marine Corps sounding calls, and the
use of boats for the first time in con-
junction with landing operations Incl
dent to the sham battle.
While the Navy Yard is holding
high holiday, the Naval Observatory,
with it's stores of scientific knowledge
and instruments, is attracting its share
of visitors. Those who had the fore
sight to write to Capt. j. Frederick
Hellweg, the superintendent, for re-
served tickets for tonights program
will look through the giant telescope
at the heavenly bodies, provided the
weather is clear.
About $4,000 had passed through
the gates of the Navy Yard by noon,
despite the downpour.
Some humorous incidents crept into
the days proceedings. A diver was
preparing to descend into the murky
waters as boy shouted: "You forgot
your hat" before the diving helmet
was put over the sailors head
Observance at Jones Statue.
Statues of naval heroes hereabouts
were the scene of special obServ-
ances. Probably the largest celebra-
ton of this nature was held at
1890 o'clock at the Commodore John
Paul Jones monument in West Poto-
mac Park, where the Marine Band
arranged to give musical program
before the exercises. The program
was prepared by the Military Order
of the World War and the Advisory
Board of the Masonic Clubs. Rear
Admiral Harry G. Hamlet, Coast
Guard, retired, was the principa!
speaker. More than score of veter-
ans and patriotic organizations, led
by the Navy League of the United
States, which sponsors the annual
Navy Day celebration, laid wreaths at
the memorial.
The program at the Jones memorial
called for Capt. Sydney K. Evans,
former chief of naval chaplains, now
retired, to deliver the invocation; for
a talk on the life of Jones by Comdr.
Norman B. Hall, and the address by
Admiral Hamlet.
At the Commodore John Barry
monument in Franklin Park the
knights of Columbus honored that
naval hero this morning. Walter I.
Plant, State deputy of the K. of c.,
accompanied by the State warden,
William A. Mulligan, laid a wreath
and prayer was offered by the Rev.
Joseph E. Gedra, assistant pastor at
Immaculate Conception Church.
Thankful for Peace.
President Roosevelt wrote Secretary
Swanson a letter for Navy Day in
which he said: 1--WE are at peace with
all the world and for that we are
thankful"
Recalling the observance the Chief
Executive commended the annual GEL
ebration to all Americans. pointing
out that "itis through the moral sup
port of our citizenry that the Navy
derives its most vigorous incentive to
strive for preparedness of our defense
at sea-"
Secretary Swanson sent a message
to all ships and stations of the service,
saying that it "is particularly fitting
that these annual observances occur
on the anniversary of the birth of
Theodore Roosevelt, whose early ef-
forts contributed so greatly to giving
his country modern navy.
At the Washington Navy Yard, car
rying out the Seeretary's orders, are
the gunboat Erie, the destroyer Leary
and the Coast Guard cutter Bib5.
The vessels are open to the public.
The yard is open from am. to STA
pm, while the Naval Observatory is
open from 9 am. to pm.
Many Activities on Review.
The variegated program at the yard
embraces work in the forge shop;
deep-sea diving from the U. S. S.
Crilly; making cartridge cases; the
2,000-ton forging press breaking down
huge steel igots; firing of torpedo;
drills of various descriptions, ashore
and afioat; an air show by planes
from the Naval Air Station at Ana
costa; Coast Guard life-saving work;
catapulting a plane; demonstration
of air tactics by section of fighters
from Carrier Division 2, Fleet Air De-
tachment, Norfolk, Va, and horizontal
bombing.
Comdr. Harold E. Saunders, in q
broadcast under the auspices of the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton, emphasized the Importance of
the naval testing basin at the yard and
revealed that 22-foot model for the
ship not yet christened, which is to
operate as sister ship of the S. S.
Manhattan, is now being tried out
here. The basin is used for merchant
craft as we'll as naval vessels.
At the Naval Academy Mrs. William
A. Becker, president general of the
D. A. r., presented to the officers
and midshipmen complete set OF
silk State and territorial flags, in
which she emphasized that they are
emblems of unity through freedom"
Declaring the Nation may have
perfect faith in the morale and eff
cheney" of the feet, Rear Admiral
Charles r. Train, president of the
Naval Examining Board at the Navy
Department, addressing a Navy Day
Z Z