Navy Day

...The Naval Department had requested one last opportunity to address the Congress. Congress had patronizingly granted permission, for even the doomed man is allowed one last speech. Admiral Fitzjames, who had recovered from his choleric attack, was the appointed speaker.Gentlemen of the Congress of the United States. We in the Navy have a fighting tradition. We 'damn the torpedoes' and sail straight ahead into the enemy's fire if that is necessary. We have been stabbed in the back—we have suffered a second Pearl Harbor sneak attack! The Army relinquished its rights to fair treatment with this attack. Therefore we are counter-attacking! Worn out by his attacking and mixed metaphors, the Admiral mopped his brow.Our laboratories have been working night and day on the perfection of a device we hoped we would never be forced to use. It is now in operation, having passed the final trials a few days ago.The significance of this device cannot be underestimated. We are so positive of its importance that—we are demanding that the Army be abolished!He waved his hand toward the window and bellowed one word.LOOK!Everyone looked. They blinked and looked again. They rubbed their eyes and kept looking...