0ULD NO
SLAVES TO TRADITION
Annapolis, June3. Upon the spirit
and widl. of its officers to cast off "slav
ery to tradition" and venture into the
realms of things untried, depends the
future strength and efficiency of the
American navy. Secretary Daniels
told the graduating class of midship
men at the naval academy here today
in presenting diplomas to its. 289 mem
bers. 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 the
ories restrain their efforts to keen
American sea power at the forefront
in, strategy and invention. ".
"To some men tradition is a task
master, 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 pre
cedent or rule, . but by an illumina
tion that is spirit and not deed.
