360 ■' BANQUET. 



Marshal of France." (Great applause and "hear, hear," all guests standing and the orches- 

 tra playing the Marseillaise.) 



The Toastmaster : — It is with the greatest regret that I have to announce that the Sec- 

 retary of the Navy, who was to have been one of our most honored guests this evening, has 

 found it impossible to be with us. A few minutes before entering this hall, I received the fol- 

 lowing telegram from him : 



"Up to the last moment I had hoped to be with you tonight, but urgent public business has 

 prevented me. I regret my inability to be present. May I add that the Society of Naval 

 Architects and Marine Engineers has an opportunity to exert a beneficent influence over 

 the maritime affairs of this country, and in so doing will do more to preserve a sound policy 

 than almost any other agent. You have my best wishes. — Edwin Denby." 



(Great applause.) 



Just before leaving Washington on Tuesday, I made a last visit to the Assistant Secretary 

 of the Navy, who bears a name which is revered throughout this land, and who, in his own 

 right, is fully entitled to the high office which has been intrusted to him. (Applause.) Colo- 

 nel Roosevelt assured me he would do everything humanly possible to get here tonight. I 

 would not have been surprised had he turned up at the last moment by airplane. His not 

 having come makes it very evident that the very important duty committed to him in connec- 

 tion with the International Conference now sitting in Washington made it quite impossible 

 for him to leave. 



Colonel Roosevelt was to have responded to the next toast — "The Navy." The Navy, 

 however, is never without a successor in command. A short time ago I warned the Com- 

 mandant of the Navy Yard that in these days we never knew who would be the next in 

 succession. He is here with us tonight. The Navy, as you well know, is always ready for 

 emergencies. Therefore, it gives me the greatest pleasure to give you the toast "The Navy," 

 and to couple with it the name of one of our most distinguished officers, who is now in com- 

 mand of this naval district, Captain Carl T. Vogelgesang, United States Navy. (Applause.) 



Captain Carl T. Vogelgesang^ U. S. Navy : — Mr. Toastmaster, distinguished guests 

 and gentlemen, I feel quite sure that the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers 

 will not expect very much from a last-moment substitute for a real orator. We know, as was 

 intimated by our presiding officer a few moments ago, that matters of great concern are 

 now being deliberated in Washington. It therefore behooves us of the Navy, and of 

 the sister branch of the service perhaps, not to be overindulgent in things that we give to our 

 tongue. I wish to say, however, that while it is not given to us poor mortals to climb the 

 skies and pierce the councils of the Almighty One, and while we are unable to penetrate the 

 screen which obscures the future, I know that I voice the sentiment, the spirit, and the morale 

 of the Navy, as exemplified in its entire history, when I say that whatever is disclosed 

 when the veil is rent aside, whatever the future may have in store for us, your Navy will be 

 as it has always been, undaunted and undismayed. (Applause.) 



The Toastmaster: — Gentlemen, there are in this country at this time, in connection 

 with the Washington Conference, many distinguished foreigners, and among them many offi- 

 cers of great distinction representing several foreign armies and navies. There are two, how- 



