Evening star., 1941-10-27
Navy Day

landing, mass plane formations and
dive bombing would be carried out.
These events were scheduled for late
in the afternoon. 1t was added that
rain would not interrupt the rest Of
the program, including the Marines
sham battle.
Fire Bomb Demonstration.
The war overseas was brought
closer to the crowd as Navy de-
tail explained what to do about the
incendiary bombs that fall so often
on European cities these days. A
glowing, sizzling bomb was scooped
up in a bucket, and an officer showed
how TO extinguish it with sand and
water.
A naval officer also stood at the
public address system and explained
gas masks With a late model de-
veloped by the Navy for civilian use
he demonstrated how to don the
mask quickly in an emergency. VOL
unteers from the crowd stepped for
ward and put on the masks IN COM
pliance with instructions.
A second observation plane was
catapulted from a Navy barge in
motion. shortly before noon.
A Navy diver was lowered from the
U. S. S. Crilley. He waded ashore on
the bottom of the Anacostla River
from the ship. where a throng hOv-
cred. He then waded back to the
diving boat and was pulled to the
deck
On the wide field of FairlaWn
Park, detachments of Marines gave
exhibitions of the close-order drill
for which they are famous. Seamen
from the receiving ship at the
Navy Yard put on an exercise drill.
The Coast Guard, using mast
planted in the field TO simulate the
mast of a ship. showed how sailors
are rescued with a breeches buoy.
Two Bands Give Concert.
Around noon the sky cleared
somewhat, but the weather re-
manned threatening. Despite occa-
sional rain, most of the crowd re-
manned milling about the water
front, taking in the varied and COL
orful illustrations of the work which
is routine for the Navy. A Marine
Corps band. supplementing the Navy
Band gave concert during the
noon hour.
Mass singing of patriotic songs,
interspersed through the program,
served to put the crowd in a mood
to appreciate the demonstration
drills and ceremonies.
While Washlngton-s celebration
was creating great interest because
of the impending address tonight of
President Roosevelt, warships in
continental ports were observing Or
ders to don full dress in observance
of the annual celebration. At Amer
lean bases, demonstrations were ar
ranged to give the public a glimpse
OF what the Navy is doing as its
share in the defense effort.
The President will speak at 10 pm
from the Mayflower Hotel. The
scene of the talk will be the annual
Navy League dinner, and short-wave
broadcasts will carry his words to all
parts of the world
Gen. George c. Marshall. Army
chief of staff. and Rear Admiral
Emory S. Land, chairman of the
Maritime Commission, also will
speak at the dinner here.
Advance indications were that the
speech would be one of primary I'M
portance and there was general eX-
pectation that it would provide
presidential comment on these main
problems of the day: Efforts to
speed up defense production: Rus
sia's urgent need for munitions to
continue fighting; the prospects for
war or peace in the Far East, and
the accomplishments of the Navy
in keeping Atlantic sea lanes clear
of hostile craft.
Mr.. Roosevelt's last major speech
was on September IL, when, after
relating a series of sea war incidents,
including the attack on the de-
stroyer Greer, he called Nazi U-boat
raiders "rattleSnakes," and said, in
effect, that the Atlantic Fleet had
been given orders to shoot at sight.
Roosevelt Praises Navy.
Since that time the U. S. S.
Kearny has been seriously damaged
bv torpedO attack. which cost