Evening star., 1948-06-04
Annapolis Graduates
Hear Sullivan Call
For Strong Defenses
By the Assoeiotsd Press


ANNAPOLIS. June 4.-Secretary
OF the Navy Sullivan called on Naval
Academy graduates today to help
preserve the peace Of the world"
and perpetuate American freedom
and liberty.
In an address delivered at COM
mencement exercises, Secretary Sui
livan said the training in leader
ship received by the fledgling Of
f1cers would be the Nations most
valuable asset" in peace or war.
"It very well may be the destiny
Of the class of 1948 to participate
and lead in such chronological prog
ress and professional advancement
that by these peacetime accomplish
ments you may make more con-
structive contributions to America S
security than other generations of
naval officers who have had to fight
and win wars that were forced upon
u.s." he said.
Warns Against Weakening U. s.
Mr.. Sullivan warned against any
idea of Weakening American mili-
tary forces.
In our sdesirs so givs tho world
evidence Of our peace-nindednes
We have in the past taken grave
risks through too speedy or too COM
plete disarman1ent,s he sail1 and
added: a34s s% I Is
I'VE must not repeat that error
now-nor in the future. We can
best guarantee the peace through
strength"
To-day as always America regards
the Navy as one of our most impor-
tant guarantors of the peace
to insure that II war comes, it will be
fought on, over and around enemy
territory rather than on American
soil" Mr.. Sullivan said.
Calls for Teamwork.
The Navy Secretary told the acad-
emy graduates reports of interserv-
ice friction were greatly exag-
gerated," and he urged them to help
perfect the teamwork between the
armed forces.
At the conclusion of his speech
404 midshipment received their COM
missions as the academy ended its
ninety-eighth annual commence
ment.
All but 28 members of the gradu-
ating class, who became Marine sec
ond lieutenants, were commissioned
Navy ensigns.
Six others graduated without COM
mission. Three were awaiting final
physical checks. two will be honor
ably discharged, and Jorge Mon
talyo, OF Quito, Ecuador, will be
commissioned later in his country's
Navy.
All the graduates were awarded
the degree of Bachelor of Science.
Highlight of the academy's June
week festivities was yesterdays color
pageant, held indoors for the first
time In 70 years because of showers.
Parade Abandoned.
The presentation of colors parade
on Worden Field had to be aban-
doned, but the annual tribute tc
the academy's best company and
its queen-the June Week Color
Girl-went of as scheduled.
The Color Girl was Mrs. Kath-
crime Wainwright Austin, 26, a wal
widow and mother from North
Andover, Mass. Her flyer husband
Marine 1t. Arthur Austin, was killed
on Okinawa three years ago.
She was chosen queen by Mid.
shipman Frederick L. Nelson oi
Petersburg, Alaska. The choice was
his right as commander of the 10th
company, which won the competi-
ton for an-around excellence.
Midshipman Nelson met Mrs
Austin through her brother, Mid
shipman Robert E. Wainwright, at
the Army-Navy football game last
year.
The graduates celebrated their
last night as middies at the annual
Farewell Ball last night.
District residents in the gradual
ing class are:
William Dwight Chandler Sd,
Robert Carhart Connolly II, Daniel
Thomas Deibler, Robert Lee Ghorm-
ley, Lewis Edison Gleason, Kelvin
Hanlon, Harvey Randolph Hum
phrey, Jack Clark Kays, Roderick
Bruce Moore, Sumner Kittelle Moore,
Robert Russell Dickey Sd, Robert
Turner styler and Ellis Mark