Evening star., 1938-10-27
PRESIDENT SEES
NAVY DAY SHOW
Record Crowd at Yard for
Demonstration of Land,
Air, Sea Weapons.

Demonstration of Land,
Air, Sea Weapons.
President Roosevelt and a record
breaking crowd today watched Navy
Day demonstration at the Navy Yard
OF land. sea and air weapons which
Uncle Sam is developing for defense in
. troubled world.
A squadron of Navy fighting planes
roared overhead and a 2l-gun salute
sounded when the President arrived
at O'Clock to embark aboard his yacht
Potomac, docked at the yard, for an
afternoon cruise on the river.
A visit by the President is no novelty
at the Navy Yard. yet Mr.. Roosevelt
was received formally today in view Of
the Navy Day observance. Ranking
officers in the gold braid of full dress
received the President at the Navy
Yard gate. The open car bearing the
Chief Executive and his guest, George
Cardinal Mundelein of Chicago,
paused briefly between honor guards
OF sailors and marines, while the band
played the Star Spangled Banner"
and the gun salute began.
More Than 100000 Attend.
The President then drove through
dense lanes of humanity in the
crowded yard and went aboard his
yacht while the military airplanes
droned overhead in formation and
acrobatic stunts. 1t was ideal weather
for the outdoor military demonstra-
ton. Ohicials expected attendance
records to fall before the program
closes at 5:l4 o'clock this afternoon
with the lowering of colors at the
main gate.
Almost 100000 visitors stormed the
Navy Yard last year, although on that
occasion it rained most Of the day.
A much larger crowd was on hand to-
day.
Throughout the day an endless line
OF spectators moved up the gangway
Of the u S. S. Shaw, l,500-ton de-
stroyer The line circled the decks
and descended another gang plank
On the Coast Guard cutter George NJ
Bibb, docked nearby, an equally long
line passed on board and returned to
shore again.
Shortly after noon an aerial pageant
was staged by airplanes from the
naval air station and a section of pur-
suit ships from the carrier division at
Norfolk, Va.
Preparedness Is Theme.
Employees at the Navy Department
today were given an extra As minutes
during their lunch period so that they
might attend ceremonies at the John
Paul Jones memorial.
of the annual observance in the Capt.
tai and throughout the Nation when
ne quoted the words of President
Theodore Roosevelt:
The work Of upbuilding the Navy
must be steadily continued"
While millions of citizens visited
nag g-decked fighting ships and shore
stations, there was grim reminder
this year that the warnings OF the
great preparedness advocate, the late
Theodore Roosevelt, had not gone un-
needed
Navy Yards Busy.
Behind the blare of bands, the
tramp Of marching feet and the drone
of military airplanes was a steady
hum of activity in the navy yards
to indicate that defense forces afioat
and ashore are being strengthened.
In his annual letter to the Secretary
Of the Navy, on the occasion of the
80th birthday anniversary Of Theodore
Roosevelt, President Roosevelt de-
clared:
THE fleet must be ready"
Similar opinions were expressed in
Nationwide radio addresses last night
and today.
Washingtonians were to pay tribute
early this afternoon to the Naval
hero. John Paul Jones, at his memorial
on the Tidal Basih In prepared
address, Capt. Clarence N. Hinkamp,
member of the Naval Examining Board,
pointed out that the country's ability
to remain out Of future wars will
rest upon her strength in backing up
her rights abroad
Edison win Speak Tonight.
Tonight Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Charles Edison will speak over
a Nationwide hook-up from Station
VOL In Washington on THE Ameri-
can Navy"
As the doors of the Washington
Navy Yard and the Naval Observatory
opened wide this morning. thousands
of persons, anxious to take advantage
Of the Nays general invitation to its
annual day at home" thronged to
see the sights.
At the Navy Yard, besides being
conducted through the destroyer
U. s. S. Shaw, whose commander,
1t. Comdr. Thomas B. Britain. is a
graduate of Western High School.
visitors were given demonstrations OF
how big naval guns are made. exhibi-
tions of deep-sea diving, parades and
other displays.
At the Observatory vlSltofS were
shown how the Nations time Is kept
and were given . chance to squint
through the big telescopes to see how
astronomers follow the movements OF
the heavenly bodies. Tonight. from
7 to II pm, the Observatory VIII
be open by card admission only.
Col. Thomas p. Carlin, State deputy
Of the Knights Of Columbus. laid
wreath this morning at the statue Of
Commodore John Barry in Franklin
Square +