I have made careful inquiries as to the condition of our sailors in the
fleet under the strain put upon them, and this continued watching and
constant attention to their duty under war conditions, and I am glad to
say that it is reported to me that the health of the fleet has been much
better since the declaration of war than it was in time of peace, [loud
cheers and laughter,] both as to the percentage of sickness and the
character of the sickness, [laughter,] and that there is no reason why
we should not keep up the same process of naval control and have the
same exercises of sea power, on which we have lived and are living, for
what is almost an indefinite period.
The Nose of the Bulldog.
By one of those dispensations of Providence, which appeals so strongly
to the German Emperor, [laughter,] the nose of the bulldog has been
slanted backward so that he can breathe with comfort without letting go.
[Laughter and cheers.] We have been successful in maintaining naval
control thus far in the struggle, and there are also sound reasons for
believing that as it progresses the chances in our favor will not
diminish but increase. In the next 12 months the number of great ships
that will be completed for this country is more than double the number
which will be completed for Germany, [cheers,] and the number of
cruisers three or four times as great.
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