Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1920 — CITES NAVY'S RECORD [ARTICLE]

CITES NAVY'S RECORD

DANIELS ADDRESSES GRADUATING CLASS AT ANNAPOLIS. ■- ” *1 " ■— Secretary Tells New Naval Officers to Venture Into Realm of Things New and Untried. Annapolis, June 4. —On the spirit and will of its officers to cast off “slavery to tradition” and venture into the realm of things new and untried depends the future strength aud efficiency of the American navy, Secretary Daniels told the graduating class of midshipmen at the naval academy here In presenting diplomas to its 289 members. Citing as an object lesson the navy’s record of resourcefulness in the world war, as best exemplified in the North sea barrage, the secretary delivered an earnest appeal to the young officers not to let the weight of accepted theories restrain their efforts to keep America sea power at the forefront In strategy and Invention. “To some men tradition is a taskmaster, a hard rule, a beaten path,” the secretary declared. “To others It is a star in the firmament, a light to the pathway; wings on which to mount for clearer vision and wiser action, to win the goal, not by precedent or rule, but by an illumination that is spirit and not deed. “No two wars were ever won by the same tactics and few by the same weapons. The military leader of the future may navigate his ships by radio and the day may even come when all his fighting craft may be ‘airy navies battling in the central blue.’ ” Coupling with his admonition against diffidence and skepticism toward the untried, a reference to the “doubt among naval statesmen” in accepting the American navy’s proposal for the North sea barrage. Secretary Daniels declared the spirit that gave birth to that "great and original conception” won for the navy the honor of contributing the “outstanding offensive” against the submarine menace.