NAVY

 

Left to right: Sheldon Clark, Chicago,
President of the Navy League of the
United States ;

Lea T. Dwyer, Indianapolis, Vice President,
State of Indiana

The Indiana State Charter was pre-
sented to Leo T. Dwyer, State Vice Pres-
ident by Mr. Sheldon Clark, President of
the Navy League of the United States
February 27 at the Indianapolis Athletic
Club at Indianapolis, Indiana. The meet-
ing was the occasion of a joint meeting be-
tween the state organization and members
cf the Indianapolis Council of the Navy
League of the United States. The presi-
dent of the Indianapolis Council, Mr.
Nicholas H. Noyes, presided.

Approximately 450 persons attended.
Representatives of all of the 18 councils
in Indiana were present at the luncheon.
Governor Ralph Gates, who is also a mem-
ber of the League, was present as a guest.

Rear Admiral. Arthur S$. Carpender,
USN, Commandant of the Ninth Naval
District, was the principal speaker. The
Admiral, referring to the League, said: “I
believe sincerely in the Navy League, and
I have given it my wholehearted support
because I recognize that after the war is
over, the naval officer may be regarded
as a special pleader for the cause of a
strong Navy, and rightly so, because the
Navy belongs to the civilians who support
it.
“That is the strength of the Navy League.
It is composed entirely of civilians. No
naval officer may enjoy membership. It
can be a major force in postwar public
cpinion as to the need for seapower by a
nation that has leadership thrust upon it
in a modern world.”

Lieutenant Alexander Vraciu, USNR of
Gary, Indiana, one of the state’s outstand-
ing war heroes, was also present and spoke.

LEAGUE EXPANSION

Left to right: Dr. J. E.-M. Thomson,
State Vice Pres. of the League of Nebraska;
Frank A. Hecht, Jr., Regional Vice President

of the Navy League of the United States.

Rear Admiral Arthur S. Carpender,
USN, Commandant of the Ninth Naval
District, was the guest and principal speak-
er at the State Charter banquet at the
Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska on
March 7. Mr. Frank A. Hecht, Jr., Re-
gional Vice President of the League, pre-
sented the State Charter to Dr. J. .E. M.
Thomson at the banquet, which was at-
tended by nearly 100 members of the
Navy League of the United States, repre-
senting the Lincoln Council and several
of the other councils throughout the state.

Mr. Hecht in presenting the State Char-
ter said that an effort was being made to
have strong local councils in every state
of the United States, and that it was rec-
ognized that the local councils were the
strength of the League. He said that, “If our
organizations are numerous enough and our
lccal membership representative enough we
can prevent what happened after World
War I. We can save the fleet.”

Preceding the banquet the Lincoln Coun-
cil and the State Council held business
sessions. Irving S. Chapin was elected pres-
ident and Dr. J. M. Woodward was elected
secretary-treasurer.

Dr. J. E. M. Thomson was elected
Honorary State Vice President of the State
organization and Mr. E. B. Crofoot of
Omaha, Nebraska, was elected State Vice
President.

Earlier in the day Rear Admiral Car-
pender and members of his staff, together
with représentatives of the Nebraska Navy
League were the guests of Governor
Dwight Griswold at the governor’s man-
sion for luncheon.

ORGANIZATION PROGRESS .
As reflected by the other side of this

page a great many of the local organiza-
tions have not held charter meetings nor
elected permanent officers.

These, charter meetings should proceed
as rapidly as possible.

The Navy stands ready to furnish out-
standing speakers and combat movies of
recent actions for these meetings. All re-
quests for Naval assistance should be chan-
neled through the state vice president.

COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

There are many activities in which a
Iecal council may engage. The local organi-
zation should become the group to which
the Navy looks for assistance in recruiting
and rehabilitation programs. Some specific
programs are suggested.

Speakers Bureau

A worthwhile project by local councils
is the organization of a Speakers Bureau.
Every local organization should have at
least two or three men who are well versed
in the story of sea power and its influence
on history, and who can tell the story of the
Navy League and its objectives. These

speakers should be made available to the

organizations in the vicinity of the local
council, such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and
other clubs. Much good can result from
the appearance of these speakers. ‘Through
this means the story of the Navy. League
may be effectively told and a foundation of
public opinion built to support the keep-
ing of the fleet after this war. A letter to
the regional office will bring material for
your speakers. Write to the Navy League of
the United States, 400 West Madison
Street, Chicago 6, Illinois, if your organi-
zation is interested.
Thrift Shop

A thrift shop is operated in the Navy
Relief Building on the U. S. Naval Train-
ing Center, Great Lakes by the Navy Re-
lief Auxiliary. Wives of officers acting
as volunteers sell material which is donated
and the funds are devoted to furnishing
without charge layettes and clothing for
infants and children of needy families of
men in the service. The shop needs cloth-
ing, particularly for women and children,
household furnishings such as pictures, vases,
and bric-a-brac, costume jewelry, toys, and
books. If a drive is not organized by your
local council any material in this category
may be shipped direct to: Navy Relief So-
ciety, U. S. Naval Training Center, Great
Lakes, Illinois. It will fill a great need
and the funds will assist a worthy cause.