(1917) Life At The U.s. Naval Academy

Life at the

U.

S.

Naval Academy

The Making

of the

Naval

American

Oflficer

By

Ralph Earle Commander, U.

Head

of the

Department

United States

S.

Navy

Ordnance and Gunnery, Naval Academy of

With an Introduction by

Franklin D. Roosevelt Assistant Secretary of the

Navy

With 73 Illustrations and a

G. P. Putnam's Sons New York and London XLbc "Rnicfterbocfter

1917

press

Map

Copyright, 1917

BY

RALPH EARLE Second Impression

^be

f{n{cl;erboc?!er f>rees,

l^ew

t2ovk

PREFACE The sea

science of conducting a in

is

The

plex.

these sea

posed of units

and

delicate

modem

power filled

war upon the

days

com-

very

of our nation

com-

is

with the most intricate

machinery of

all

types,

and a

men is required in order that the Navy may succeed in its twofold mission. In peace, this Navy personnel of scientifically trained

must be ever prepared

to maintain peace; in

must protect the coimtry from

in-

vasion,

and thus permit the routine

its

wonted

industrial

war,

it

and

of

social life to continue

uninterrupted by the presence of a foe within the nation's borders.

The

national defence

primarily depends upon the strength and the efficiency of the

Navy.

The Naval Academy accomplishes the education of the officers of the

Navy, and

is

thus

Preface

IV

the very foundation of this national defence.

This school

is

the rock

upon which

is

built the

whole fabric of our sea power.

The requirements of the vessels composing our fleets demand something vastly better in

way

the

of education than

was

available to

our great admiral, David Glasgow Farragut.

A

midshipman at nine and one

age,

an

officer

half years of

aboard the Essex when just

past ten, a prisoner of war at thirteen, Far-

ragut had to obtain his schooling where and

when he of

could.

While a paroled prisoner

war he completed one year For the remainder

Chester.

of study at

of his education

he was indebted to the chaplain of the Washington.

From 1816

to 1818, this officer,

who

during the last year was the American consul at Tunis, instructed Farragut in the rudiments of mathematics,

and

Italian.

English literature, French,

None more than Farragut appre-

ciated the necessity of a thorough education for the officers of the

repeatedly that

very best

the

Navy, and he urged

Navy must have

facilities for their training.

the

v

Preface In this book an effort

is

made

to explain

the methods adopted at the United States

Naval Academy at Annapolis, to give the midshipmen of our

ough

theoretical

and

the knowledge of the

but

places,

is

many

scheme

is

This recounting

of necessity dull in

given nevertheless with considit will

make the

of the midshipman at Annapolis clear to

who may be

all

a thor-

subjects that the

erable detail in the hope that life

Navy

practical groimding in

naval profession demands. of the general

Maryland,

interested in the process of

creating a naval officer. It is pointed scientific

out how, coincidently with his

and mechanical education, there are

implanted in the midshipman the moral and the physical qualities with which the naval officer

must be equipped

never lack the virtue, loyalty,

in order that

honour,

he

may

patriotism,

and subordination that the nation

rightly expects

him always

to possess.

In the task of describing the

shipman the author has

life

of the

mid-

freely consulted the

following works whenever

it

was necessary

Preface

VI in this

manner

to supplement his personal

experience at the Naval

Academy: Park Ben-

jamin, The United States

Naml Academy; W.

R.

United States

Soley, Historical Sketch of the

Naval Academy, i8y6;

'i.

Two

O. Stevens,

Early Proposals for Naval Education (Proceedings of U. S.

Naval

Stevens and C.

and

the

S.

Alden,

A

;

Naval Academy; C.

An

" Santee"

U.

S.

No. 145) W. O. Guide to Annapolis

Institute,

Naval

Alden, The

S.

Appreciation (Proceedings

Institute

No. 146)

;

J.

of

A. Murphy,

Notes on the Swedish System of Physical Training (Proceedings of U. S. Naval Institute, No. 142)

;

J. Halligan, Jr.,

Post Graduate Education

in Naval Engineering (Journal of the Society of

Naval Engineers, Feb., 1916,

vol. xxviii.);

Harris Laning, The Necessity of Protecting our Athletes (Proceedings of

No.

U.

S.

Naval

Institute,

146).

The author grateful

further desires to express his

appreciation

of

the

ceived from the midshipmen

Academy, staff of

assistance of the

re-

Naval

particularly those of the editorial

the Lucky Bag, 1916,

who

supplied

Preface

vii

and aided materially by

pictures

their sug-

gestions;

from the White Studio, which con-

tributed

many

of

the

especially for the book;

the

bers of

Academic

photographs

taken

and from the memStaff

of the

Naval

Academy, who responded most generously to the several requests for suggestion

and

criticism.

Ralph Earle. July 15,

1

91 6.

INTRODUCTION It

is

not generally realized by the public

Academy

faces

existence a task

more

that the United States Naval

during every year of difficult

its

than that of any other institution of

The average

learning in the United States.

imiversity provides, or in its

is

supposed to provide,

undergraduate department a general

rounding out of the school training of the

American boy and means of

fitting

him

to

take his place in those pursuits and businesses

which do not require a special technical

For those who

training.

additional

professions

specialize in

years

of

the

study are

required.

At

the Naval Academy, the

Government

of the United States attempts to turn out in

four years a

graduate, all

men. "

entrance

is

man who, more

than any other

expected to be "all things to

It

must be remembered that the

examinations

at

Annapolis

are

X

Introduction

intended to be suitable for any competent

graduate of a

first-class

means that every

effort

high school.

This

must be made during

the next four years to give the continuation of general education.

And

students must be taught all

all of

the nautical,

of the military, all of the scientific, all

of the historical is

in addition, the

and

knowledge that

legal

necessary to the equipment of even the

youngest

ensign

in

Navy.

the

In

other

words, in four years these boys, gathered together from every State in the Union, from rich families

and from poor

families alike,

are expected to become, not only educated

gentlemen, but also international lawyers,

keen observers, navigators, neers

On

and

also all

artillerists, engi-

around men and

specialists.

the whole the expectation of the people

of the United States

is

whole the United States accomplishes more in

On the Naval Academy

justified.

foiir

years than any

other college in the country. the officer of the American

man marked by any

The

Navy

result is

—not

the

special bnlliancy, not

Introduction the rare individual

but the body of

work

who

does not measiire up, whole.

Their

work in the

past,

officers as a

in the present, as their

speaks for

xi

itself.

Many great educators have,

after a cursory

glance at the system of the Naval

suggested radical changes. it

Academy,

In most

cases

can be shown that these changes have been

tried in the past

and have been found un-

desirable, but

encouraging to reaHze that

it is

Academy does not stand still, that willing to take up new suggestions to

the Naval it

is

keep abreast of the times.

which

make its work effective in

will

to come, as

The one other

is

it

the years

has been until now.

thing that

is

needed more than any

a greater and more intelligent interest

on the part

of the public in the

Naval Academy.

life

of the

fies

a long-felt want and

and

It is this spirit

it

many-sided

This book

satis-

also gives clearly

definitely the history, the Hfe,

and the

aims of the greatest national institution of learning.

Its publication is especially timely,

for the increased interest of the people of the

Introduction

xii

United States in the building up of a

must make them realize that the coasts

and indeed

Navy

safety of our

of our whole country de-

pends not only on the welding together of masses of

steel in the

form

of ships, but

the training of a greatly increased officers for the

number

proper use of these ships.

on of

In

the naval service officers cannot be trained in

a few months or after war breaks out. greater Annapolis

is

as essential as a greater

fleet.

Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Navy Department, January

20, 1917.

A

— Contents

xiv CHAPTER

XIV.

XV.

PAGE

Grounds and Buildings

The Ensign

Appendices I.

.

.

'

Course of Study, with TextBooks Used .314 Regulations mission

III.

Index

.299

.

:

.

II.

.278

.

.

.... Governing

Biographical Note

.

Ad-

.

325 349 351

ILLUSTRATIONS PAGB

A View of

....

the Grounds from Dahlgren

Hall

Frontispiece

White Studio.

......

Commander Franklin Buchanan, Navy The

U.

S.

12

First Superintendent, 1845.

The Naval Academy,

1870 to 1898

,

.

18

Gassier.

Captain E. W. Eberle, U. The Superintendent,

S.

Navy.

26

19 16.

View of Annapolis and the Naval Academy from the Dome of the Capitol

A View

in

....

34

the Yard

40

.

White Studio.

The State House

46

The Brice House

46

Photo by McAboy.

Entrance to the Quarters

58

Illustrations

xvi

PAGB

The Naval School Tablet

.

.

58

.

62

Armstrong.

In the Rotunda of Bancroft

Hall

White Studio.

Infantry Drill Artillery Drill

The Rifle Range

66

.... ....

66 72

Armstrong.

The Interior of Quarters

.

.

78

.

.

84

White Studio.

The Academic Board, H. M. Mullinix

1915-1916

....

The Midshipman Commander,

The Midshipmen of the Class of Midshipman Room

88

191 5- 19 16.

1916

....

.

92 100

White Studio.

At Recitation

.

.

.

.

.100

.

.110

.

.116

White Studio.

Returning from Recitations White Studio.

Mess Formation

.

.

Illustrations

xvii PAGE

The Extra-Duty Squad

.

.

.116

At Examinations

.

.

.

.124

IsHERWOOD Hall

.

.

.

.124

.

.

.138

.

.

.

.138

.

.

.

.144

.

.

.

Five-Inch Loading Drill White Studio.

Fire-Control Drill White Studio.

Torpedo Instruction White Studio.

Spotting Drill

.

.144

White Studio.

Steam Tactics

"Argo" under

150 Sail;

Cutters under

Oars

150

The Naval Academy Chapel and Administration Building

.

The Interior of the Chapel

.

.

160

.

.

164

Photo by McAboy.

The Crypt of the Chapel.

The Sar-

cophagus OF John Paul Jones Photo by McAboy.

.

168

Illustrations

XVlll

PAGB

The Chapel through the Arcade Physical Drill.

172

Swedish System

176

White Studio.

Swimming Instruction

176

White Studio.

....

View of the Academy from Annapolis Harbor

180

The Crews

190

The

Quarter-Mile Run

Start.

196

Stopping the Half-Back

202

Track and Field Sports

206

A Shot

— Lacrosse

for a Goal

....

Boat Sailing boats

210

:

Knockabouts and Cat 218

The Dewey Basin

Army AT

vs.

New

Making

218

Navy Football Game York, Nov. its

First

Touchdown

Copyright Pictorial

in

Fog

Army

27, 1915. .

224

News Co.

Worden Field Photo by Armstrong.

224

Illustrations

xix PAGE

U.

S.

The

S.

"Constellation"

.

.

.

238

"Missouri" in the CuleBRA Cut of the Panama Canal, July 16,

U.

S. S.

1915

At Sea

in

Formation

....

Life on the Practice Cruise Scrubbing Decks and Airing Bedding

242 242

:

.

.

246

Life on the Practice Cruise: Range-

FiNDER Drill Life on the

246

Practice

Cruise:

The

Bridge

248

Life on the Practice Cruise: Shooting THE Sun in the Early Morning

248

Landing Party Leaving for a Shore Parade, U. S. S. "Wisconsin

252

.

.

The Practice Squadron at San Diego, California, July 28-30, 191 5

A Corner ratory

.

.

......

256

of the Electrical Labo-

The Machine Shop White Studio.

....

262 262

Illustrations

XX

Shaft Horse-Power by Torsion Meter and Prony Brake. Shaft Driven by Curtis Turbine

Measuring

.

White Studio.

....

The Forge Shop

270

270

Wlaite Studio.

Annapolis from the Harbor

.

.280

Bancroft Hall at Night

.

.286

.

The Library and the Auditorium

.

290

Armstrong.

Division

Turn

of

Battleships Making a to Gunnery

......

Preparatory

Practice

Copyright E. MuUer,

302

Jr.

At Elementary Target Practice

.

Destroyers at Sea

.310

Copyright E. Muller,

Map

.

.

.

306

Jr.

of the Grounds of the Naval

Academy

.

.

.

.

Ai

the

End

Life at the

U.

S.

Naval Academy

Life at the

U.

S.

Naval Academy CHAPTER

I

HISTORICAL SKETCH *'Ex Scientia Tridens."

The

Military

Academy

had a smoother sea has the academy of the

a

man

at

for

its

cruise

sister service.

than

No less

than President Washington advised

Congress in 1793 that military school.

it

should provide a

In 1794 Congress created

the corps of engineers and to its

West Point has

artillerists,

giving

members the grade "cadet," which

grade has been perpetuated to the present day.

Congress in

effect

founded the military

Life at U. S.

2

academy

Naval Academy

in that year, although this identical

academy lasted but two years, being compelled

when

to close

destroyed the cadet school

fire

West

buildings at

then discontinued. tary Academy, as its first

it

Point.

school

was

The United

States Mili-

exists today,

commenced

academic year July

spite of

The

1802, and, in

4,

some severe setbacks,

it

has since

continued to grow in influence and value to the country.

The Naval Academy was

less

fortunate

and many obstacles both from within and without the service had to be encountered and

overcome before It

its

founding became a fact.

was not established

must be the

until events slowly, as

case, forced such

to take a place in our national

our

Navy

believed

little

officers of

that

an life.

in the twenties in,

institution

The

sea

were

men

and often actively

opposed, education, being of the firm conviction that the ship at sea provided sufficient training for It

is

all

future oflBcers.

remembered that our Navy came

officially into

being by the Act of Congress in

Historical Sketch

3

1794 after a close struggle, the act winning only by the small margin of two votes. this act the President

was authorized to ap-

point forty-eight midshipmen and to

Such

pay.

appointments

result of poHtical favour,

to education

many

By

were

fix their

often

the

no requirements as

and naturally

being exacted,

thoroughly worthless youngsters were

sent to sea where, under the hard conditions of living, they led their habits.

However,

officers until

all

messmates into wild

famous naval

of the

the close of the Civil

into the service in this way,

schoolmasters

War came

unguided by

and subject to no

discipline

save that hard and unjust type then belonging to the sea.

The

greater part of these mid-

shipmen, despite such conditions, educated themselves and became most worthy of the nation and of perpetuating the traditions of the service

tion

and thus deserve the

and respect

sincere admira-

of the officers of the present

day.

The need

for better facilities for education

so forcibly impressed itself

upon many

of the

Life at U. S.

4

Naval Academy

abler officers that two makeshift naval schools

came

into being, the first

riere in 1821 at

on board the Guer-

New York

and the second on

By

board the Java at Norfolk.

1833 there

was a third school located at the Boston Navy Secretary Branch, in 1829, speaks of

Yard.

these schools as being "tolerated" because

he could obtain no

legal authorization

and no

funds for the purpose of educating young officers.

Midshipmen not on

were not on duty, and had not to proceed to their homes.

cruising vessels sufficient

As a

funds

result

they

waited in idleness at yards, where they yielded to

many

of

them sought

and only

temptations,

instruction.

studied at colleges and at it

was once proposed

the

Such

West Point

best

officers

to which

to send one hundred

midshipmen.

One

of the

most

successful, consistent,

far-sighted advocates of a real naval

and

academy

was Lieutenant M. F. Maury, who, while only a passed midshipman, published a Navigation that was successful in England and America,

and was used as a text-book when the present

Historical Sketch

Naval Academy was founded.

Maury wrote

1842

5

In 1841 and

strong articles, that ap-

peared as Scraps from a Lucky Bag, which he caused to be widely distributed, exposing the

inadequacy of the Navy, both in material

and personnel, together with the paralysing of political

effect

He

corruption.

times called the Father of the Naval

is

some-

Academy

because of his untiring energy and devotion to the

work

of getting

it

started.

Chaplains, and later professors of mathematics, were detailed

by the Department as

schoolmasters, and in 1835 the corps of instructors

was placed on a firm

How-

footing.

ever, as

most of the instruction took place at

sea,

was thoroughly unsatisfactory and

it

During

inefficient.

recitations

as

weU as

during study periods a class was liable to be called

of

away

the

to reef topsails or to perform

other

man-of-war.

multitudinous

This condition

duties

will

some of

a

always be

unavoidable on shipboard as the safety, ;

effici-

ency, and preservation of the ship and her

personnel

and

material

permit

no

other

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

6

to

interests

with

conflict

instant

their

attention.

A

memorial of protest against the condi-

tions that

prevented education was drawn

up on the U.

by

signed

S. S. Constitution in

of her officers

fifty-five

1836 and

and by

sixteen of the officers of the Vandalia.

This

memorial was forwarded to Congress by the Secretary of the Navy.

urged the estab-

It

lishment of a naval school as the only method

whereby existing conditions could be remedied.

The

Secretaries of the

Navy

continually urged

Congress to establish a school, but dread of expense

just

as

body from doing

deterred

continually so,

that

although the Naval

Committees reported favourably recommendation after

recommendation for

During the naval

personnel pressed

stantly in Congress,

being towards the education for

a retired

list

this object.

forties questions relating to the

for

con-

the direction of effort

end of obtaining better

officers

and seamen, naval rank,

for the officers,

government and

solution

discipline

and the general of

the

service.

Historical Sketch

many

laws

being

The efforts in an academy for the

passed.

Congress to establish

Navy

7

similar to the one for the

Army were

continuous from, 1842 to 1845, but without success.

These

efforts

possessed additional

force owing to the introduction in

steam machinery Sea

officers

in the

1839 of

Navy.

were not unanimously in favour

of a school, but

it is

decidedly worthy of note

that such able and successful seamen as Farragut,

Upshur, DuPont,

Foote,

Dahlgren,

Buchanan, Goldsborough, and Craven were active in their efforts of their influence in

and untiring

in the use

an endeavour to foimd a

naval school. Conditions in the ser^ace were, to put mildly, scandalous,

it

and were due no doubt to

ignorance, as claimed

by the advocates

of a

The mutiny on the Somers and the hanging of Acting Midshipman Spencer, a son of the Secretary of War, on Decemnaval school.

ber

I,

1842,

directed the attention of the

country to the faults and that brought into the

evils of

Navy

at the

a system

command

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

8

of politicians youths of

This

acter.

bad and

vicious char-

occurrence

tragic

is

credited

with being the real cause of the establishment

Naval Academy, although

of the it

was only added

in reality

fuel to the fire already burn-

ing.

The need

tion,

mathematics, languages, international

law,

and the

one school to teach naviga-

of

steam engine

principles of the

was manifest and was bound,

in spite of

all

obstacles, to bring into being such a school.

In 1838 the Naval Asylum School was tablished at the

Naval

Home

phia with a one-year course.

at Philadel-

In 1841, this

which possessed only the most paltry

school,

and inadequate living

es-

and

accommodations

both

was attended by

learning,

for

thirty-

four midshipmen, one professor acting as in

charge and as the sole instructor. 1842, Professor William

head of

and the help

Home

Chauvenet became

Through

this school.

of the

In April,

his

own energy

Governor of the Naval

better quarters were secured.

well-lighted

room

and

the

A

good,

acquisition

chronometers and sextants conduced to

of

much

Historical Sketch

9

higher standards of education, but the time,

one year,

was most decidedly

up

Professor Chauvenet drew

insufficient.

detailed plans

minimum course Secretary Henshaw

two

of study calling for a

of

years on shore.

agreed

to

make

Asylum course two years

the Naval

instead of one and this extension into effect September, 1844. so

was revoked by

was

to

go

His order to do

IMr. Alason, his successor.

In 1844 there were in service fourteen professors at sea,

and one at Boston, one at Nor-

folk, three at Philadelphia,

and three on special

service.

George authority

Bancroft

Massachusetts,

of

on education,

having

an

taken his

degree at Harvard University in 1817, and at Gottingen, in 1820, and since that time

having had personal experience in teaching

became Secretary 1845.

of the

Navy on March

As Congress was unable

4,

to establish

a Naval School, he decided to accomplish this

purpose without

legislation

and

his

recourse

by using only

own

ability.

skill,

to

national

diplomacy,

In pursuit of this plan

10

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

he found ready

made

Chauvenet School.

for his use the plan of Professor

1845, he directed the

13,

Board of Examiners

Naval Asylum

the

for

On June

of the

Naval Asylum

School to report as to the desirability of establishing

a Naval School.

This Board,

the senior member of which was Commodore

George C. Read, urged the early

ment

of a

establish-

Naval School and a concentration

and centraUzation young naval

of efforts to educate the

officers.

As no funds had been

appropriated by Congress for a Naval School the choice of a

The

site

practically

was

necessarily restricted.

abandoned

army post

of

Fort Severn, comprising nine acres on Windmill Point

between the harbour of Annapolis

and the Severn River, was selection

of the

and

its

was urged by Captain Mayo, one

members

of the Board.

of the report of this visited

available,

by

Secretary

On

the receipt

Board Annapolis was Bancroft,

Governor

Marcy, Secretary of War, and Commander Warrington, Chief of the Bureau of Yards

and Docks.

Historical Sketch

ii

A second Board composed of Commanders McKean, Buchanan, and DuPont was now appointed by Secretary Bancroft, which also

recommended Annapolis, and, furthermore, that Lieutenant Ward, with Professors Chau-

venet and Lockwood, constitute the

Thus Secretary Ban-

the proposed school. croft

staff of

had succeeded in having two Boards agree

upon the same

site

On August

1845,

15,

for

the desired school.

the

War Department

transferred this Fort Severn reservation to the

Navy Department, and from this spot

Philadelphia to

was transferred the Naval Asylum

School.

Commander Franklin Buchanan, U. S. Navy, who had been a member of the second Board, was made the first commanding officer of the school.

Board

He

organized the Academic

in the following order:

Naval School, Annapolis, Md., October

4, 1845.

Gentlemen: You will convene as a Board and arrange the classes of the Midshipmen attached to the Naval

Life at U. S.

12

School, decide

number

Naval Academy

upon the hours

of hours

of recitation, the

necessary to be applied to

study, and designate the days, hours, and time

required for the various lectures and submit for

my

approval the result of your deliberations. course of instruction will be comprised

The

under the following heads

— Mathematics, Natu-

Philosophy, Chemistry, Gunnery and the use of Steam, Geography, English Grammar, Arithmetic, History, the French and Spanish lan-

ral

guages, and such other branches desirable to the

accomplishment of a Naval

ment may

Officer as

your judg-

dictate.

Lieutenant

Ward

will act as President of the

Board.

Very Respectfully Your Obdt Servt (Signed) Frank'*

Buchanan

Superintendent

To THE Professors ATTACHED TO THE NaVAL ScHOOL Annapolis ]Md.

The Naval School

at Annapolis

mally opened on October

lo,

was

for-

1845, with

an

address by Commander Buchanan deHvered in one of the recitation

mids hipmen is

rooms to the

in attendance.

As a

fifty

contrast,

it

interesting to note that the academic year

COMMANDER

FRANKLIN" BUCHANAN'. U

The

First Superintendent, 1845

S.

NAVY

Historical Sketch 1915-1916, beginning October

and

hundred

nine

eighteen

13 1915, found

i,

midshipmen

attendance, the greatest number up

in

to that date

in the history of the Academy.

The

courses followed closely those

out for the Philadelphia school. of the school

worked

The conduct

was by no means an easy matter.

— that those midshipmen recalled from sea—resented the fact that they The

"oldsters,"

is,

were required to study, and especially in

company with the "youngsters," as those who were just appointed and who consequently had never been

to sea were called.

Comman-

der Buchanan was more than equal to the task, being a

man

disciplinarian,

reckless

and

of inflexible will

and a stem

who brought under improvident

control the

youngsters

thus

suddenly removed from the restraint of ship-

board

life

and forced to study, a thing

which they had no first

body

desire.

of students.

Simpson, an

officer

A member

for

of this

Rear Admiral Edward

appointed in 1840, thus

described the novel situation in which the mid-

shipmen found themselves: "Y7e were men

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

14

ranging from twenty-one to twenty-six years of age,

had been

accustomed to

for five years,

but, like sailors, shore,

and

and

discipline afloat,

prone to relaxation when on

required effort to accustom our-

it

selves to the things,

in active service as officers

new and unexpected

it is

very certain that

order of

all

did not

recognize the advantages nor the benefit that

was

to follow.

Attempts were made to kick

over the traces, but there was a strong hand at the helm, and discretion

was found

to

be

advisable."

The plan

of organization proposed that a

grade of naval cadet inferior to that of mid-

shipman should be created by law and that these naval cadets should comprise the primary

The entrance age was

class of the school.

fixed

between

thirteen

and

sixteen

years.

The change in title was not to occur for many The course, rather irregularly carried years. out due to causes beyond the control of the officers of the

the

first

and

school, last

comprised five years,

spent at the school, the

intervening three at sea.

Historical Sketch

15

Late in the summer of 1846 Congress made its first

appropriation of funds, amounting to

twenty-eight thousand two hundred dollars for

"repairs,

at

Fort

improvements, and instruction

Annapohs,

Severn,

days after the

bill

Md."^

Three

became law Secretary

Commander Buchanan to enlarge the buildings and construct new ones. When the School was fully under way, ComBancroft directed

mander Buchanan appHed Mexican

War

commanding

and,

March

officer of the

an active part

in that

for sea

duty

16, 1847,

in the

he became

Germantown taking

war being present

at the

capture of Vera Cruz.

A

revision of the curriculum soon

a necessity.

A

in consequence,

'

new code

became

of regulations was,

drawn up by a Board

of seven,

This amount was practically the same as had been many years for "the instruction of mid-

appropriated for

shipmen and other purposes," the appropriation differing from previous ones only in the slight change of the wording. By placing eleven out of the twenty-two civilian professors upon waiting orders without pay, the Secretary was enabled to save some $14,800 of this appropriation. This amount he used for repairs and new construction at the Naval School.

i6

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

one of

whom was

the Superintendent of the

Military Academy.

These regulations were

approved and put into operation, and,

in

accordance with these regulations, the Naval School on July States Naval

Under

i,

1850,

became the United

Academy.

this organization the plan of sending

student's to sea during

an intermediate three

years was continued and the attendance at the

Academy was

increased to four years.

The

element composed of the sea ofKcers was thus ever to the fore, as the

officer's

prime requisite

then was seamanship; gunnery in the

was an unperfected

science,

but crude instruments. tional time

study, greatly,

now

was

it

Navy

the guns being

Owing

to the addi-

allowed the midshipmen for

possible to extend the course

and the present system

of separate

departments, each with an executive head,

was

fully adopted.

marking

scale of

following tiples

also

and

In July, 1850, the present

4 came into use, with, in the

May, the

present system of mul-

coefficients.

This Board of seven

inaugurated the Board of Visitors,

a

Historical Sketch

17

committee appointed to attend the annual examination of the of

making

Academy

report, criticism,

for the

purpose

and recommenda-

tions.

The

sloop-of-war Preble

practice ship for the

was obtained as a

summer

of 1851.

This

summer of 1852 made the first summer practice cruise. The training

vessel in the

foreign of

midshipmen on a ship commissioned

solely

for this one purpose met with approval that

resulted in the growth of a sentiment in favour of

making the academic course continuous,

breaking

it

only

cruises, instead of

by the summer

by

practice

the three years spent at

sea prior to the final academic year.

This idea culminated in the adoption of such

a recommendation of the Academic Board by a

board appointed in 1851, among the members of

which again

is

found the

dent of the Academy,

first

Superinten-

Commander Buchanan. in

making

Academy a

consecu-

This resulted, November, the course at the Naval

tive one of four years with

1

851,

an annual summer

practice cruise of three months.

This system

1

Life at U. S. Naval

8

Academy

has continued to the present date despite the

many

existence of

to the

first

reasons for a partial return

system of

Commander Buchanan.

That the present system may the best

possibly not be

a debatable matter, and naval

is still

opinion appears to be crystallizing towards a partial return to that adopted in the beginning

by our about

sea officers

foiu-teen

by

establishing a period of

months

prior to the final aca-

demic year to be spent

Such a system would

midshipman

The

emy 1854.

first

course,

in a cruising ship.

necessitate a five year

an increase

of

one year.

graduation exercises of the Acad-

took place at noon of a June day in

They

consisted

in

a muster of

all

hands, prayer by the Chaplain, a brief address

by

the Superintendent,

Goldsborough, probably

Commander short

L.

M.

and to the

point as became this imposing seaman of the old school, and a presentation of certificates. Discipline early factor in the

life

became the most important

of the institution because the

change in the education of the midshipmen

whereby they were required to adapt them-

Historical Sketch

19

selves to a systematic routine of education

instead

of,

without

as formally, doing as they pleased

restraint

of

any

kind,

naturally

caused in the midsliipmen body an opposition against lawful authority that in order

had to be quelled

that education should continue to

The commandant

advantage.

of

midshipmen

was, from the start, charged with the discipline of the student body.

Especial import-

ance was given to this ofhce by Captain Blake, first

superintendent for eight years.

Its

incumbent was Commander Craven, a

celebrated

seaman

of

and

Preble, Plymouth,

the

Constitution were suc-

cessively the training ships for

from 1 85 1- 1 862,

The

Navy.

old

midshipmen

and Lieutenant Stephen B.

Luce, head of the department of seamanship, in 1862

wrote the Navy's

classic,

Luce's

Seamanship.

At the outbreak tions of

of the Civil

War,

resigna-

midshipmen who desired to go South

began to pour

in

Academy was one resignation of a

and the atmosphere of great unrest.

of the

The

midshipman desirous

first

of fol-

20

Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

lowing the fortunes of his State took place in

December, i860.

After the

of Fort

Sum-

Captain Blake grew uneasy regarding

ter,

the safety of the school.

em

fall

The arrival of North-

troops, however, eased the situation some-

The

what.

frigate

Constitution,

which was

agroimd at low water, was a source of anxiety, as

was feared she might

it

South.

a prey to the

After great efforts she was success-

towed out

fully

fall

of the harbour.

The

fall of

the Norfolk Yard again caused the superin-

tendent grave misgivings as to the safety of his students

the

Constitution,

tenant G.

W.

on the 25th to

and the Naval Academy, and so under

command

Rodgers, sailed for

Lieu-

of

New York

of April, 1861, thence proceeding

Newport where she arrived on the 9th

May.

The

officers

and

their families

transfered from Annapolis to

of

were

Newport by the

steamer Baltic, commanded for the cruise by Lieutenant C. R. P. Rodgers.

The

books,

models, and apparatus that could be trans-

The midFort Adams, off

ported were placed aboard her.

shipmen were quartered at

Historical Sketch

21

which the Constitution anchored, and, under

command of Commander C. R. P. Rodgers, Commandant of Midshipmen, the Naval Academy was soon again in full swing, studies the

beginning on Alay 13th.

was moved

Constitution

Goat

close to the shore of

Island, the fourth class being quartered

on board while the third Fort

In September the

Adams

class

was moved from

to quarters in the Atlantic House.

In October, 1862, the Santee reached Newport

from the Gulf Blockade and became an additional school-ship for the

course was here

The summer

made

practice

Academy.

The

to total three years.

took on the

cruises

aspect of actual duty applied to searching for

the

Confederate

cruisers

and

to

keeping

constant war watches as a precaution against surprise in

any form.

In this manner

excitement was furnished.

The

much

ships then

used were the Alacedonian, Marion, and the

yacht America. This removal to Newport nearly resulted in ending the

Naval Academy,

for

it

was con-

fronted with the task of turning out from

22

Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

raw material thoroughly developed practically

officers in

no time, and without limitation as

to their number.

midshipmen

were

From

1861 to 1865, 858

which

graduated,

large

number eventually blocked promotion

in

such a manner that whereas in 1868 there were lieutenant commanders whose total

ser-

vice consisted of eight years, yet in 1897 there

were ensigns whose service

in

that grade

The

extended over more than eight years.

War

Department, which had acquired Fort

Severn during the war, was using

and would not return

pital

although requests that

The

result

it

it

it

as a hos-

to the

Navy,

do so were made.

was that the Naval

Academy did summer of

not return to Annapolis until the 1865,

Rear Admiral D. D. Porter becoming

the superintendent that

fall.

His work as

superintendent was most notable, and

all his

reforms and improvements were done thor-

oughly and logical

well.

Military discipline under a

system became a fact and the Academy

curriculum was reorganized.

For the

first

time the fact that engineering was of immense

Historical Sketch importance was recognized; inaugurated in an in the

official

were

athletics

manner; recreation

form of dances and minstrels by the

A chaplain was

midshipmen was introduced. also

23

added to the

staff

of

Academy.

the

In Porter's administration the midshipman's

word was accepted without reservation as being the truth, a standard maintained to the present time.

From was

1866,

instruction in engineering

added to the course,

first

students

when

known

until

1882,

as cadet engineers pursued

a course devoted to engineering, that

differ-

ing greatly from the course given the mid-

shipmen.

In

legislation

had been enacted whereby mid-

1870 a discouraging piece of

sliipmen at the

Academy were made "cadet

midshipmen" and thus deprived rank formerly held by them. not?

No

one

knew.

In

of the actual

An

1882

officer or

the

name

midshipmen as a designation for the student

body was withdrawn by

act of Congress

the students became naval cadets.

and

Beginning

with the class entering in 1873 the course was

24

Life at U. S.

made

Naval Academy

six years, the first four

being spent on

probation at Annapolis, the last two at sea.

From

1889 to 1899 the course given the naval

cadets that were selected for engineer duty

upon graduation

differed in the final year

from

the course given those selected for the

line.

In 1899 the line and engineer corps of the

Navy were

united into one body, the line;

the graduates of the to

fill

Academy

the vacancies in the

being assigned

line,

Thus, since the

marine corps.

the education given to

all

engineer, fall

and

of 1899,

students throughout

the course has remained the same. Since January, 1904, the age of admission

has remained at

its

present status, that

is

a

minimum of sixteen and a maidmum of twenty years of age at the time of the examination of

the candidate.

On

July

desired

I,

by

1902,

sea officers, in the designation of

the old

the students,

being restored shore-going abolished.

came a change, constantly

name

of

midshipman

and the inappropriate and

title

of

naval

cadet

being

Historical Sketch

The

25

acts of Congress of the years 1903

1906 relating to the Naval

Academy

and deal

exhaustively with the subject of hazing and

methods

for

stamping out the practice, which

apparently had crept into the student body as a successor in part perhaps to the duello.

The custom appears to have started in the fall of 1 87 1 when some entering students were treated harshly by upper classmen. Many dismissals resulted

shipmen. class

In May,

a

of

mid-

this act of the

1874,

was deprived owing to

tion

from

its

the

whole third

summer vaca-

widespread

outbreak

of

hazing.

Since 1873,

when

the term was increased

from the four years established by the Board of

1

85 1 to six years, the only radical change

in the course at the 1 9 12

signs,

Academy took

place in

with the graduation of that class as en-

both the diploma of a midshipman and

the commission of an ensign in the

Navy

being conferred upon graduation. at Annapolis

now

educates and furnishes officers for the

line,

The Naval Academy

26

Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

graduate

—through department —and marine

duties

the

construction

engineer,

in

its

post-

corps

The remaining

Navy.

staff

corps are composed of men, specially prepared at other medical, technical, and professional colleges,

who win

petitive

examinations.

the old days

their commissions

—too often

ward young boys, put political influences as

by com-

The midshipmen wild, reckless,

of

and way-

Navy through

into the

a favour to constituents,

sometimes because the boy's parents wished to be rid of a bad yoimgster

—have thus ceased

to exist, and their places are

filled

by highly

educated and trained young commissioned officers,

the ensigns of our Navy.

thus at present no sea

officer in

the

There

Navy

is

with

duties that correspond to those of the mid-

shipmen or

The

wild

reefers of the

life

days before the '45 's.

and hard times

of the

"gun

room," so vividly told in

Marrj'-at's novels

and

in the reminiscences of

some

lish

and American naval

officers,

retired

Eng-

have ceased,

being replaced by the very quiet decorum of the "junior

officers' "

mess.

CAPTAIN

E.

W. EBERLE, U.

S.

The Superintendent, 1916

NAVY

Historical Sketch *'

Now

2^

we^ve had quite enough of the antique ideas chaps who are nothing hut sailors,

oj those

They were

well on their way, hut this is the

of Science, Msthetics,

and

day

Tailors."'^

The Naval Academy has now completed seventy-one years of useful life and has made possible the development of the

Navy and

of

the sciences that go hand in hand with such

The graduates form the

progress.

upon

whom

officers

the nation depends to prevent in

war an enemy from ever reaching our and to maintain with

all

in peace friendly relations

The

nations.

of achievements in

war

of

which

it is

The men who

shores,

service has a record

diplomacy as well as in

most

have,

justly proud.

by

their efforts,

main-

tained the high mental and moral standard of

Academy throughout the years of weathering by their able seamanship

the Naval its life,

many

a hea\y adverse gale, must have a

mention brief I

in this

United States

New

book even though

it

be the

one afforded by a chronological

York, 19 lo,

Naval Academy, by p. 308.

list.

Park Benjamin.

1

28

Life at U. S.

Such a

list

Academy

is,

of the

Naval Academy Superintendents of the

therefore,

appended as a conclu-

sion to this short recital of the story of the

Naval Academy.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY Assumed command

Commander Franklin Buchanan Commander George P. Upshur Commander Cornelius K. Stribling Commander Louis M. Goldsborough. Captain George S. Blake Rear Admiral David D. Porter Commodore John L. Worden Rear Admiral Christopher R. RoDGERS Commodore Foxhall A. Parker Rear Admiral George B. Balch Rear Admiral Christopher R. Rodgers Captain Francis M. Ramsay Commander William T. Sampson Captain Robert L. Phythian Captain Philip H. Cooper Rear Admiral Frederick V. McNair Commander Richard Wainwright Captain Willard H. Brownson Rear Admiral James H. Sands Captain Charles J. Badger Captain John M. Bowyer Captain John H. Gibbons Captain William F. Fullam Captain Edward W. Eberle

.

.

Sept.

3,

1845

Mar.

15,

July .Nov.

i,

1847 1850

i,

1853

Sept. 15, 1857

Sept.

9,

Dec.

i,

1865 1869

P. Sept. 22, 1874

July Aug.

i,

1878

2,

1879

13,

1881

P.

June Nov.

14, 1881

Sept.

9,

1886

June Nov.

13,

1890

15,

July

15,

1894 1898

Mar. Nov.

15,

1900

6,

1902

July

i,

1905

July

15,

June

10,

1907 1909

May

15, 191

Feb.

7,

1914

Sept. 20, 1915

CHAPTER

II

THE CANDIDATE "J

The

believe in celerity."

instant a

— Farragut.

boy becomes possessed

of

appointment to the Naval Academy he "candidate" and

lives

an

is

a

and thinks as one,

being spoken of by that designation, emphasized

with a

little

condescension

and high

mightiness by the more fortunate boys

al-

ready wearing the uniform of the naval service as midshipmen.

Candidates for midshipmen

are boys from sixteen to twenty years of age

who come from walks of

all

parts of the country, all

Hfe.

The appointments of midshipmen to the Naval Academy are now made under an Act of

Congress

approved

which reads: *9

February

15,

191 6,

30

Life at U. S.

"An Act Providing

Naval Academy for

an increase

in the

num-

ber of midshipmen at the United States Naval

Academy."

"Be

it

enacted by the Senate and House of

Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter there shall

be allowed at the United States Naval Academy three midshipmen for each Senator, Representative, and Delegate in Congress, one for Porto Rico, two for the District of Columbia, ten appointed each year at large, and fifteen appointed annually from enlisted men of the Navy as now authorized by law."

In July,

1

91 6, Congress, in

its

Naval Appro-

priation Act passed in the interest of prepared-

amended

ness for war,

this

law relating to the

appointment of midshipmen to the Naval

Academy by

allowing the President fifteen

appointments annually instead of ten; allowing the Secretary of the

Navy

appointments annually instead of the enlisted

men

of the

twenty-five fifteen

from

Navy; and allowing

the Governor General of the Philippine Islands to designate one Filipino for each class

upon graduation

will not

who

be entitled to a com-

mission as an officer in the United States Navy.

The Candidate

31

Under the above law and its amendment the maximum number of midshipmen that may be present at the

Academy

at

any one time

is

At the opening of the Academic Year 1915-1916 when the maximum permitted by 1762.

law was 1094 there were present 918 midshipmen.

Therefore in the future under the

present law the

maximum number

shipmen at the Academy

will

of mid-

probably be

approximately 1478.

Whenever a midshipman drops out during his course for

any

reason, the

Congressman

representing the district from which he

appointed

is

notified

tion in order that

by the Bureau

he

may

was

of Naviga-

designate an ap-

pointee to take the next entrance examination

Academy and thus moment the vacancy in to the

fill

at the earliest

the

regiment

of

midshipmen.

A boy is nominated

to the Bureau of Navi-

Midshipman in the Navy of the United States by the person authorized by law to do so, and this

gation for an appointment as a

Bureau then sends the nominee a

letter of

Life at U. S. Naval

32

notification

Academy

and permission to take the en-

trance examinations.

Several boys are usu-

nominated for each appointment,

ally

principal

and successive

must then accept the appointment by out and signing the following

a

They

alternates.

filling

letter:

,191 Sirs: I hereby acknowledge the receipt of your

tion

communica-

of

giving

me

authority to report for examination as to

my

appointment as a Midshipman in the United States Navy, and to inform you of my intention

qualification for

to report accordingly.

In consideration of the foregoing and of

ment as a Midshipman

my

appoint-

United States Navy, should I receive such appointment, I hereby engage with the consent of my parent (or guardian) that I will serve in the Navy of the United States during the pleasure of the President of the United States, unless sooner discharged by competent authority. in the

Respectfully,

{Each name must be written in full)

The action of the above meets

my my

in signing

approval, and should he receive an

appointment as a Midshipman, I hereby give my consent to his acceptance thereof; and I hereby give him my full permission to serve in the United States Navy during the

The Candidate

33

pleasure of the President of the United States, unless

He was bom

sooner discharged.

,

at

day

on the

of

To THE Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Washington, D. C.

To

many

obtain an appointment in

takes years of entails

final

trial

cases

and work and sometimes Usually

disappointment.

the

coveted appointment comes as the result of

winning a competitive examination held by senators

and representatives and open to

everyone

who

is

a legal resident of the State

or district to which the appointment to the

Academy

is

apportioned.

The

President also

holds competitive examinations for the fifteen

appointments per year that he the law.

compete

Of

late years the

for these

to the sons of

is

allowed

by

boys allowed to

appointments are limited

Army and

these have practically

Na\'y

officers, for

no other means

avail-

able for securing an appointment in view of

the fact that seldom does a ser\ace family possess a legal residence.

An

enHsted

man

of

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

34 the

Navy

or Marine Corps

is

entitled to take

a competitive examination foradmission is

if

he

not over twenty years of age on the date

of entrance to the

that time ing,

is

Naval Academy, and at

a service

man

of one year's stand-

appointments for twenty-five such

men

being available to the Secretary each year.

Those

enlisted

compete

men who

signify their desire to

an appointment are accorded

for

special

encouragement by the

whom

they are serving in the

officers

way

tmder

of urging

to study, excusing from ship's duties to do so,

and giving

special instruction.

The

experi-

ence gained while serving before the mast is

one of the greatest value to the embryo

officer

as he

an insight into the

acquires

habits of thought and living of the enlisted

man

that in after years

leader of

men than he

any amount

makes him a better

could become through

of education.

makes good he has a

such a

man

right ever after to point

with pride to the fact that wonderful step, so dear to forecastle to cabin."

When

Out

he has made the all

seamen, "from

of sixty such

men

The Candidate who took

35

the examinations in 1916 seventeen

This means twenty-

passed unconditionally. eight per cent.

After a boy secures and accepts his appoint-

ment

as a candidate

—the

towards becoming a naval

most

officer

difficult step

—both he and

his parents begin to anxiously question

selves as to

whether or not he

is

them-

sufficiently

prepared to pass the entrance examinations.

Many

excellent schools

of pushing boys

coaching

extra

make a

special point

through these is

hardly required

grounding in grammar and the high school work

is

Such

tests. if

year in

first

thorough and

one's

w^ell

under-

Should the candidate decide that he

stood.

cannot imassisted sufficiently well review his

work or cover any advance subjects trance, he should take a course of

three

months

for en-

from one to

at one of these preparatory

schools.

A an

review in painstaking detail

essential

and must not be

is

of course

neglected.

If

a boy knows either French or Spanish and

has already studied

much

of

the

subjects

Life at U. S.

36

Naval Academy

taken up in the first-year course, he has a great

Languages

advantage.

much time

lutely

new

tion,

time that should

subjects.

to one, too

If

when

require,

abso-

in prepara-

be spent on other

a boy does not

these foreign languages, let

know

either of

him utilize his spare

time and study one even though ever so

little.

The boy upon entering the service should be made to realize that time counts in everything that he

is

to

do even to the inclusion

One

trance examinations. lessons to be taught

emy

is

of the en-

of the important

by the course at the Acad-

that decisions must not only be correct

but that they also must be made quickly. Surely an enemy will never wait to attack while

one

is

making up one's mind

indecisively

the proper procedure. begin too soon.

as to

Such training cannot

Sufficient

time

is

allowed for

the entrance examinations and accurate work is

expected.

To

those reading the papers an

interesting insight

is

given to the methods of

instruction in use in the different sections of this country, the compilation of

which obser-

vations would furnish useful data.

The Candidate It is well to

methods

37

emphasize the need of modern

of solving problems, as the long in-

volved methods of extracting roots of numbers, imfortunately

still

schools, will not

taught in some

grammar

do such antiquated methods ;

being a veritable waste of precious time.

Also,

in solving problems, a statement of the

same

should be made; for

when

invariably will be discovered that cancel out and but a

moment

problems

have

solve

that

done

this is

it

many factors

will suffice to

very

involved

statements.

Many

boys make a poor showing in the

mathematical subjects. thoroughly

in

These must be known

preparation

studies in algebra

for

further

the

and geometry beyond the

scope of the entrance requirements.

After

having demonstrated his knowledge of the subjects prescribed for entrance,

by

success-

fully

passing the examinations based upon

them,

it is

is

presumed that the new midshipman

prepared at once to proceed with topics

beyond those requirements advanced algebra and

in the courses in

solid geometry.

The

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

38

importance of thorough preparation in mathematics to the set

full

extent of the requirements

governing the

forth in the regulations

examination and admission of midshipmen great; for, after admission to the

Naval

Academy, the character and amount

of in-

struction from the outset leave

or no

is

opportunity

for

one

little

imperfectly

make up

his deficiencies

sible for

him

and render

to derive full benefit

instruction or perhaps even

to

fitted it

impos-

from

his

to maintain

a

satisfactory standing.

The

foregoing

points

cover

im-

certain

portant items that have often come to the attention of officers

when they

are associated

with students desirous of entering the Naval

Academy.

The entrance examinations

follow closely

the same lines from year to year. of subjects

is

The order

changed at times, but upon

re-

quest the Bureau of Navigation will notify candidates as to the order in which the subjects will

Two

be given out.

examinations are held yearly, the

first

The Candidate

39

beginning the third Tuesday in February,

and the second on the third Tuesday

The

in April.

choice of taking the February or April

examinations rests with the individual,

who

should decide with the knowledge fixed in his

mind

that,

tions

and

if

he takes the February examinahe

fails

is

debarred from renewing

the attempt in April.

law

emy

This ruling

inadequate in

is

examinations

a

year

for

every

action of the

taken

two

candidate.

onl}^

by the

all

under unusual

The candidate can

once for a particular

from

Acad-

Academic Board, an action that

seldom and only

circumstances.

logical

by

fixed

to handle

size

This rule can be departed from

is

is

for the reason that the staff at the

class,

try but

a decision that

points of view, but he

may

is

try

to enter once each year as long as he remains eligible

by reason

date

well grounded,

is

of his age. it

is

If

the candi-

wise to take the

FehracLTV examinations and then enjoy a rest prior to the physical examinations If

in June.

not well prepared in February the April

examinations should be awaited.

Life at U. S.

40

The examination by the is

officers of

Naval Academy questions are

drawn up

the Academy, and one copy

forwarded by the Superintendent to the

Civil

Commission

Service

Washington.

at

This commission, upon receipt of single copies of the questions, has

them printed

in their

customary form for presentation to the can-

As the officers

didates.

of the

Academy never

see these printed sheets, even for proof reading, errors are

sometimes made in the printing,

one question in geometry being recently so mutilated

that

it

was absurd.

Upon

the

completion of the examinations in compliance

with the regulations of the Civil Service examination,

all

work performed by the candi-

dates, including all sheets of

rough or scratch

work, surplus blank sheets furnished for use in answering the questions, blotters the candidates

collected

and even the

may have

soiled

used, are

by the examiner who has supervision

under the Civil Service Commission, and are forwarded direct to the Academy for examination

and

for grading

instructors there.

of the

work by the

•-?^

The Candidate The examinations occupy final decision as to

didate

is

made by

Academy. and

all

41

'

The

three days.

the admittance of a can-

the Academic Board of the

This procedure gives

fair

play to

typical of the endeavour made

is

throughout the service to treat

all

alike with

impartial justice and greatest consideration.

The

different

ditions imder

examinations

home

surroundings and con-

which the candidates take their the

affect

results

somewhat.

Recently a young man, fearing that he had not obtained a passing marie, wrote the Superintendent

requesting

another

trial

on the

ground that he had been obliged to write

his

papers while sitting in the sorting or work-

room

of a western village post-office.

As the

examination took place during rush

when every for

his

hoiirs,

person, from miles around,

mail,

the

came

candidate was not only

annoyed by questions as to what he was doing and

why he was

the disparaging remarks

bourly

friends,

blundered sadly.

doing

it,

made by

but also by these neigh-

who, though meaning

well,

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

42

"Why

waste your time, Jack, at this

stuff,

you never can pass?"

"Go home and

get to work, your place

on the ranch, not at

is

sea."

In addition he was trying to spell words from dictation

by

the postmaster,

mispronounced

many

who

grotesquely

When

of them.

it

is

remembered that a misspelled word deducts from the mark two tenths five misspelled

for each of the first

and one tenth

for

any addi-

tional misspelling, thus allowing but ten

of the forty given to be misspelled

didate

is

if

words

the can-

to pass, such conditions are surely

discouraging to earnest boys gling hard to enter

who

are strug-

life

profession.

upon a

Spelling with a weight of one

and grammar

with a weight of two are combined to give the of

mark in EngHsh, so that a fair knowledge grammar quite materially helps the poor

speller to obtain lish.

a satisfactory mark in Eng-

In the case just cited the boy was

passed.

Even the

empt from

largest cities are not ex-

criticism

the examiner.

on the pronunciation of

In April, in one of the edu-

The Candidate

43

cational centre cities in the East, the

"bicycle"

word

was pronounced "beesi'ckel" by

the Civil Service Examiner to the despair of the candidates, until one, by question, brought

out the fact that

it

wheels, after which sailing.

To

was a machine with two

became

its spelling

plain

pass the entrance examinations

the candidates must obtain a 2.5 on a scale of a 4.0 as the perfect mark.

per cent., and

is

This

is

but 62,5

thus materially lower than

seventy-five per cent required in the entrance tests for

most

of the colleges of the country.

Until recent years,

all

entrance examinations

were held only at the Naval Academy

itself,

a rather expensive proceeding for the unsuccessful candidate.

To

avoid this expense

the practice of holding examinations in four

hundred and eight

cities

and towns, through-

out the whole country was inaugurated.

The examinations

are not hard or long as

these recent results bear witness In February, :

1916, examinations out of 227 didates, 99

were passed; and

out of the 12 1 6 candidates

examined canin April, 19 16,

who submitted

Life at

44

papers,

U.

S.

Naval Academy

453 were passed for entrance.

As

Congress had enacted but a short time prior to this a law providing for a large

number

of

additional midshipmen, the majority of the

boys who presented themselves as candidates in the April tests

had not expected appoint-

ments and therefore

really

had had an imusu-

ally short time for preparation. It is well to

study carefully the detailed

regulations for entrance,

together with the

physical and mental requirements given in

Appendix

II of this book.

It is

worthy of

note that the text-books from which the ex-

aminations in English subjects are compiled

and those which express the

fully the extent of

ground covered by the

mathematical

subjects are listed in the regulations governing

admission to the Naval Academy.

To

avoid a most heart-rending disappoint-

ment, namely that of being rejected by the medical board after having passed the mental requirements, a physical examination given

by the essential.

candidate's

This

home

precaution

is

an

not

be

physician

should

The Candidate

45

may

Such an examination

omitted.

often

many Naval Reto be foimd in many

be obtained at one of the cruiting Stations that are cities

throughout the countr>\

the candi-

If

date at any time should be in the vicinity of Annapolis, an unofficial preliminary examina-

made by the medical officers of Academy upon request to the Superin-

tion will be

the

tendent. If

the candidate passes mentally, he will

receive an

important looking

ment informing him recting

him

of

that

to report to a

official

fact,

Board

of

docu-

and

di-

Medical

Examiners at Annapolis at a date early in June, usually the

examinations.

by request

The

first

week, for his physical

This date can be advanced

to the Superintendent.

physical examination

is

held in the

Sick Quarters on the fourth floor of Bancroft

Hall as the dormitory or quarters of the mid-

shipmen

is

caUed.

The presence

of

three

uniformed sirrgeons does not greatly contribute to the candidate's peace of mind. examination

is

thorough and

is

The

proceeded with

The candidate leaves the room with-

quickly.

out

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

46

official

information as to his success or

failure although

certain in his

he

will naturally

own mind

About seventeen per fail

upon

be almost

of the result.

cent, of the candidates

their first physical examination

due

to defects that can be readily corrected

A

treatment.

candidate

should

take

by the

time before reporting to have diseased or enlarged tonsils and adenoids removed, and to have his teeth put in thoroughly good condition

by capable

dentists.

cient to cause failure to pass

causes

that

Deafness is

treatment

proper

suffi-

often due to will

readily

These defects are common causes

remove.

of rejection.

As a

close estimate it

may

be

stated that about eight per cent, of the can-

didates are finally rejected physically.

At

the time of one's arrival for enrollment,

the latter part of old

town

of the

May or early Jime, the quaint

of Annapolis

gay

is

at its best, being full

social life attending

ation from the

upon the gradu-

Naval Academy

of

some two

hundred midshipmen, the majority having

THE STATE HOUSE

Pholo by

A COLONIAL RESIDENCE, ANNAPOLIS

THE BRICE HOUSE

McAboy

The Candidate parents, relatives,

and

47

friends present to

add

to and to take part in the social functions of the graduation week, which ends with the

departure on leave of the graduates and the of

sailing

the

undergraduate classes

three

upon the three-month's summer

cruise.

While wandering about the grounds the candidate will doubtless be accosted by some superior beings in the shape of midshipmen,

who, nevertheless,

feel

sympathy

for the can-

didate in his strange surroundings:

What made you want

mister!

"Say, is

will

you look

about the

to go to sea?'*

at that candidate!

He

ratiest bird I've ever laid eyes

The Navy has

upon!

—"Hey,

certainly gone to the

dogs," etc. etc.

Annapolis, at present a town of 8609 (census 19 10), has been the capital of since 1694

moved

to

napolis

on the

when the State government was Anne Arundel Town, now An-

—

—on the Severn from

river of that

of

St.

Marys, located

name, just inside of Point

Lookout on the north

mouth

Maryland

side of,

and near the

the Potomac River.

The

can-

Life at U. S.

48

didate takes his

Naval Academy

first

and no easy task

here,

lesson

navigation

in

that of learning to

is

navigate the streets of this provincial town.

These

streets,

sidewalks places

which are rough with uneven are

that

blocked

at

unexpected

by the old-fashioned house

stoops,

two

radiate as the spokes of a wheel from circles

located not far from each other; those

of the State

The

House and of Saint Anne's Church.

intersections of these streets complicate

matters, and, as

this

if

were not

sufficient to

many alleys, some dignified by names, as Wayman's Alley, Tate's Alley, Andrew's Al'y, Hyde Al'y, make numconfuse a stranger,

erous short cuts.

Cases of people becoming

lost in this small city are

names

of

the

streets

not unknown.

The

Annapolis remind

of

one of English history, for one walks on the

Duke

Prince

of Gloucester Street,

George,

and Hanover; and two

London's highways, Fleet

added to

King George, of

and Comhill, were

this little English

town

as also

was

Chancery Lane. Old

colonial

Annapolis

offers

much

of

The Candidate containing,

interest,

as

49 the finest

does,

it

examples of pre-revolutionary brick mansions, once the homes of the very gayest of Colonial hfe in the days of 1750,

England could boast

when not a town

of so

and handsome women.

many

of

fashionable

The Ridout house

built b}^

John Ridout, Secretary' to Horatio

Sharpe,

the

Maryland;

famous Colonial Governor of with

Acton,

grounds

spacious

sloping to the Spa; the Scott; the Carroll;

the Brice; the Paca,

now

the hotel

known

as

Carvel Hall; the Han\^ood; the Chase, and the Ogle residences were

all

1740 and 1770, and represent

erected between

much

of interest

and beauty.

The

State

House

of Colonial date,

1

772-1 774.

however, until after the Revolution.

In this

on the 23d of December, 1783, Gen-

building, eral

having

The picturesque landmark of the city, was not added,

been erected in

dome, the

is

Washington resigned

his

commission as

Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, and here

also the treaty with Great Britain

ratified in

1

784

.

was

This structure alone furnishes

Life at U. S.

50

much about the

Naval Academy

of interest to the candidate as

rooms, at

its

dome

its paintings,

he looks

and from

takes in the exceptionally beautiful

view afforded of the bay, the

city,

and the

Naval Academy. Saint Anne's Church, the starting point of

the second series of radiating streets, contains

communion

the silver

made by a

ser\dce

and alms basin

London and

court silver-smith of

presented to the church by King William III

The present

in 1695.

of the

structure

church, though

first

it

is

on the

site

dates only from

the year 1859. Saint John's College, with trees,

This

traditions.

when

it

magnificent

college

from

dates

1694,

was known as King William's School,

the present

name

being given

most famous tree on tree,

its

a beautiful spot, rich in historical

is

its

it

campus

in 1784. is

The

the Liberty

under which, in 1652, was made a treaty

with the Susquehannocks, and where from 1 770- 1 775

many

assemblies of patriots met.

Really what more fitting place for the Naval

Academy

could be found than this town of

The Candidate Annapolis with

its

51

memories of greatness ever

to the fore.

Annapolis explored, the candidate awaits the day of his entrance to the Academy. entering

Before

he

must

provide

with the entrance deposit for outfit

Many

etc.

the

of

clothes,

three

uniforms,

himself necessary

the

bedding, books^

boys have difficulty in furnishing

hundred dollars

that

required.

is

One young man, promised an appointment, had no means of obtaining this amount and so he conceived the idea of enlisting in the service as

an apprentice seaman.

He

did so

at the nearest recruiting station, served

some

time in the Navy, and saved his salary carefully.

As the time

for the

examination ap-

proached, he was ordered to the station ship at the

Academy, reached

his destination at

Government expense, and took the

By

this

test there.

means he had saved enough

to

make

the required deposit.

The

official

notice as to the result of the

physical examination, soon arrives, and

if all

has gone well on this examination the future

.

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

52

on the day

officer

after

reports to the Super-

it

intendent's office where he office of the Paymaster to

In return a receipt

deposit.

he

directed to

is

directed to the

is

make

show

is

the required issued that

at the office of the

Superintendent in the administration build-

A

ing.

report

time

is

then indicated when he

is

to

and take the oath under the personal

eye of the Superintendent.

document the candidate

In signing this

for the first time sees

Navy" beneath A proud and solemn moment is

"Midshipman, U.

the

title

his

name.

this of swearing in

S.

and one often remembered

as being the start in an honourable profession,

one that always exacts ones' best both because of

efforts,

past traditions and

its

its

present needs.

OATH UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY I

,

of the State of ...

Midshipman, do solemnly support and defend the Con-

years, having been appointed a

swear

(or affirm) that I will

stitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign

and domestic; that

I will

bear true faith and allegiance

The Candidate

53

to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without

any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the oflSce on which I am about to enter: So help me God. Midshipman, U. S. Navy.

Then the

registration

is

made under the

eye of the Secretary of the Naval Academy;

among many

entries required

midshipman's religious is

belief.

in the nature of life insurance.

has

made

is

that of the

His next duty

As Congress

provision whereby the dependent

relatives of persons in the naval service lose their lives in the discharge of

who

duty

re-

ceive a

sum

for six

months, the midshipman must make

equal to the pay of the deceased

out a "beneficiary slip" stating to

money

is

whom

to go in case of his death.

details completed, the

midshipman

will

this

These prob-

ably never again enter the Administration Building during his course unless officer of

it

be as

the day to bring the log (the record

or journal of the weather and events of each

day) for the signature of the Superintendent, to receive from the Superintendent a commis-

54

Life at U. S.

sion as a

Naval Academy

midshipman

officer in

the regiment,

or in the unfortunate event of his having

committed a grave breach of the regulations requiring a personal interview with the Superintendent.

Now

he

proceeds

Bancroft

to

Hall, reports to its executive officer, a lieu-

tenant commander in the Navy,

who

gives

him

his

slip,

together with a regulation book, a requi-

assignment to a room and a direction

sition book, leisure.

and some

leaflets to

This direction

tions or listed tasks

slip

study at his

contains instruc-

which the midshipman

must do consecutively, checking the completion of each one imtil all are finished, will

when he

be ready to take up the summer routine

of drills

and

instruction.

After reporting to the

naval

officer in

building

Duty

Officer, as

the

charge of the discipline of the

is called,

he hunts up his room and

The candidate has thus become a midshipman, a member places his baggage therein.

of the fourth class, and, in the language of

the Academy, a "plebe."

CHAPTER

III

THE NEW MIDSHIPIMAN ''Obedience is the soul of the

The

title

cal thing

Navy."

"midshipman"

—Cradock.

—the most nauti—

about the Naval Academy

origi-

nated in the early days of the navies when ships began to be officered

and manned by

sailors in the place of soldiers.

The young

boys then placed upon ships as understudies to the officers were utilized to carry orders

from one deck to another, not only with the purpose of instructing them in the manner in

which the routine of a ship of the

line

was

conducted, but also of insuring that orders given by the officers were intelligently delivered to the persons to be affected thereby,

which persons were out of hearing distance. These old ships had many decks. 55

The

officer

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

56

in charge of the vessel

was habitually

on the spar deck or on the poop. sters during drills

either

The young-

and evolutions were

sta-

tioned near the break of the poop; that

is

near the mid-length of the ship, or midships, as the term

hence the name midshipman

is;

naturally followed.

more

These midshipmen being than older

agile as well as quicker- witted

seamen were most

efficient

as

messengers,

and they grew in importance and progressed to the rank and commission of line officers.

As

these appointments were the easy road to

a commission, men of high position

social or poUtical

and wealth often obtained such

posi-

tions for their sons.

One

midshipmen was

aloft

where they led the

and directed the

reefing of top-sails hence the

of the stations of

men

;

word "reefer" sometimes applied to them. The short coat, or reefer, now worn by midshipmen was adopted as being suitable

work

aloft

and received

its

name from

for this

use.

Possibly the his

bare room

new midshipman and dropping

after finding his

suit-case

The New Midshipman

57

there does not ponder long over these things, for, as

in

a matter of

fact, there is

not

much time

which to think.

He

has entered upon a

one that

will

keep him on the go

busy

life,

continuously, and one that will do lessen

any

suffer.

If

feeling of homesickness

the

new midshipman

much he

to

may

before his

entrance to the Academy, has not read Marryat's

Midshipman Easy and Peter Simple

in

order to become tnily "sea-going," he will find that he will be kept so

busy afterwards

that this part of his education must be omitted

and he must become a

When

he visited the

officer of

sailor

without

office of

the executive

Bancroft Hall, a direction

handed to him.

Glancing at

it

it.

slip

was

he sees that

he must now proceed to the midshipmen's store

and equip himself with the necessary

clothes in other

and bedding

for his

summer's work,

words he must "draw

his outfit."

Articles in the midshipmen's store are sold

as close to wholesale prices as possible in order to help reduce the cost of living to the mid-

shipman who, immediately upon signing the

Life at U. S.

58

commences

oath,

to receive a salary of fifty

This money

month.

dollars per

Naval Academy

is

not paid

direct to the midshipman, but the account of

kept by the pay

it is

all

drawn

articles

addition, a dollars per

is

officer

and the

charged against

sum of one hundred and annum is withheld in order

for the graduation uniforms,

cost of

In

it.

eighty to

making a

reservation of not less than seven himdred

twenty

pay

total

and

This wise provision together

dollars.

with the requirement that no debts be contracted

may

by midshipmen

enter

officers free

upon

their

from debts.

insures that graduates sea-service as junior

Parents are requested

not to send money to their midshipmen sons.

Thus

all

midshipmen are put upon the same

financial footing

and are compelled to acquire

the habit of taking care of their salary.

A

pass-book showing the status of his account is

submitted

examination,

month. lars,

A

which

leaves the

to

each midshipman for his

checking,

and signature each

mess entrance is

returned

Academy,

fee of thirty dol-

when

is set

the midshipman

aside in order to

ENTRANCE TO THE QUARTERS

\aval School

Founded October JtS

'

lOth.

President of ihe

U.

^m

lSf5

JAMES K POLK Stat

GEO BANCROFT .Sprr«l.iry of tUi- \.tv\

THE NAVAL SCHOOL TABLET

w

w

The New Midshipman cover

napkins,

table-ware

of each

midshipman.

the

for

and

crockery,

table-cloths,

necessary

The monthly

59

cost of table-board

and laundry

midshipman averages about twenty-

four dollars, this being charged to his account

and indicated on the pass-book. this cost

was about twenty

stuffs are far higher

and the

fare

is

In 1874

dollars,

but food

now than they were then During the

far better.

first

Academy a midshipman is allowed and paid one dollar per month for his spending or pocket money. This amount increases year at the

each year imtil in his

first-class

year

it

reaches

three dollars. Outfit being drawn, the plebe returns to his

room and stows

his locker

and

closet,

being

guided in this compHcated operation by the

minute directions contained in his copy of the Regulations of the U. S. Naval Academy, the " Blue Book" or the " Plebe's Bible" as it is variously designated.

Several trips to the store

to transfer the outfit to his

room

quired unless our new midshipman

enough to possess a

little

will is

be

re-

fortunate

small change with

6o

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

which to hire a corridor boy to help bring the material drawn to his

room and even

to stow

his locker, this last being of great assistance.

To make

a bed

hard to one; pays, for

it

is

sometimes a task that comes

3^et ability,

even in this branch,

saves time that can be profitably

devoted to study, as well as prevents the acquisition of demerits with their attendant privilege restrictions.

The midshipman now

shifts into his

khaki

coloured flannel shirt and khaki trousers, and

assumes the white canvas hat with a blue border around the upturned brim.

This

is

his attire for the greater part of the time

prior to the beginning of the academic year in October. tailor

for

Then he proceeds

to the contract

shop in the basement and

uniforms.

This

little

man

is

measured

hustles

him

who has done many years. How in clothes made on such quick

along with the celerity of one

such work for many, the world can

measurements ever will

fit?

But the midshipman

discover that they can and

master-at-arms

is

visited

will.

The

and arrangements

The New Midshipman made either

to turn in to

or to send

home

twenty-four

all

for safe keeping

clothes within

civilian

These

hours.

are petty officers,

him

6i

masters-at-arms

formerly of the Navy, but

of late years generally civilians,

who

regulate

the care of Bancroft Hall, overseeing the of the

men who

clean corridors,

work

—the corridor

boys or "mokes" as they are called in the

Academy

parlance,

—and

ties of express offices,

trunk and storage spaces,

They are helpful always new midshipman, who encounters no

kitchen, to the

the various activi-

and so

on.

harsh words these days, the rule of the sea and the

men on

the sea having grown milder with

the years even though

and

efficient.

It is

it

be none the

less strict

no longer a requirement

that one should be scared to death in order to acquire the habit of obeying promptly.

The bugle-caU

for the

mi d-d ay meal has

possibly interrupted his

work before he has

shifted into his uniform,

and the

tion with

The

members

civilian clothes or

marked man he ;

first

forma-

of his class takes place.

make him a awkward points

"cits"

feels that his

62

Life at U. S.

are

accentuated

meals and

drills,

Naval Academy

thereby. in

Formations

for

good weather, are held in

the esplanade of the quarters facing the aca-

Here the hot June

demic group of buildings.

sun beating on the buff vitrified paving bricks

and cement blocks hurts the eyes and After muster

the tan.

is

over,

starts

and the various

orders and details published, the midshipmen

march around the This

a

is

ground

terrace to the

mess

Hung

level.

hall.

on the

big, bare, well-lighted hall

the various centre

to

supporting columns are gilded footballs, each

one indicating a hard won victory over the

West

A Navy

Pointers.

goat, stuffed,

a glass case over the doors.

was one

Navy

this

most successful mascots

of the

football

perpetuated.

As

A

team,

goat

his is

West Point game, the

memory

is

is

in

goat

of the

thus

always taken to the

position of keeper of

the goat being considered an honourable and

necessary post, as

many

attempts to steal

the said mascot have been made by the

Army.

Along the beams and borders are

secured half models of various vessels such

White Studio IN'

THE ROTUNDA OF BANCROFT HALL

"

The New jMidshipman

63

as the Constitution, the Franklin, the Laii-

the Nipsic, the Ossipee, the Worcester,

caster,

and some eighty

dows and

others.

Through the win-

across Farragut Field

is

an attrac-

view including the harbour of Annapolis

tive

with

its

busy

fishing fleet

schooners, Chesapeake

house, and

Kent Island across the bay.

hearty

are

the deep-sea

Greenbury Point

the

passing,

traffic

and small cargo

Bay with

and

being

nourishing,

light-

Meals served

quickly by the busy coloured waiters, or messhall boys, amidst a great clatter of dishes

Here the new mid-

buzz of conversation.

shipman

members After

will

and

begin making friends of the other

of his class.

the meal

the plebe

continues

his

One by one he checks off on his the work as completed. When done, he

settling. list

finds

that he

" shaken down, into his khaki,

is ' '

automatically

ready for work.

and

changed to one

that the academic

life

or

Once shifted

his civihan clothes

—sent home, the midshipman free life

settled

— "cits

finds his former

of the routine

type

of necessity requires.

64

A

Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

midshipman

not permitted to possess

is

or to use tobacco in any form until he has

begun

that

his fourth year,

is

until

he has

become a first classman, when the privilege of smoking while in Recreation Hall (popularly

No

known

as

"Smoke

Hall ")

is

granted him.

debts of any kind can be contracted law-

fully

by a midshipman, and he must inform the

authorities as to

entrance that he

Tobacco

is

any debts contracted before under obligation to pay.

is

therefore turned in;

and reports

in writing, one covering this fact, the other

stating his status as to debts

and the

tion of his civilian clothing, are

to the

Commandant

reports are the

first

of

disposi-

then

Midshipmen.

written ones the

made These

new mid-

shipman has to make and again with the help of the

midshipman

officer of

the day or the

regulation book, the task, after several is

trials,

completed successfully.

The

athletic officer

is

also waiting to ques-

tion the plebe as to his experience ties in

and

abili-

the various lines of athletics, in order

that he

may

place

him properly

in athletic

The New Midshipman

A

squads and athletic teams.

and the future

filled out,

midshipman

by

65

blank form

is

athletic career of the

be guided in great measure

will

it.

The marking furnished clothes,

is

of clothes with the stencils

usually a dirty job;

on the deck of the room, and elsewhere,

everywhere and anywhere that to be,

and ink on

it

ought not

the inevitable result, together with

is

the odour of an ink in ones clothes that clings for

days and unmistakably pronounces one a

plebe. Officer

He makes an oral report to the Duty when he has completed the stowing of

his locker

and the marking

For a companion

midshipmen

of his clothes.

—or companions, as three

may have

to

room together

beginning October, 19 16, on account of increase in

whom

numbers

he

of choice,

—

in his

room he may choose

likes that is available, or, in default

roommates are

assigned

by the

Executive Officer of Bancroft Hall.

The Executive

Officer of Bancroft Hall at

9 A.M. on the day after the plebe enters, will inspect the plebe's cap

and mackintosh.

The

66

Life at U. S.

cap certainly

will

Naval Academy

not pass the scrutiny of this

The article of the regulations on hazing now must be thoroughly read, and the new middy will

officer if it

be the

doubtless read

least bit small.

many more

regulations with

not a Httle wonderment as to whether he can ever

keep from being put on the "pap" or

Perhaps

report sheet. pleted

by evening

all

the above

roll-call; in

com-

is

any event

it is

expected that a substantial proportion has been, and that the next afternoon the mid-

shipman

is

completely ready to take up the

routine of duties.

At 10 turns

P.M.,

in, his

hearing taps on the bugle he

bed made none too well unless he

has had previous practice, and drops sleep after the floor

midshipman

off

to

in charge of the

has inspected his room, put out

and made sure that he has turned

in

lights,

and

is

The report of the morning gun, followed by the noise of the bugle and drum, rouse him at six-thirty the next day, shortly quiet.

after

which a classmate on duty makes an

inspection to see that he

is

up and dressing

m-m INFANTRY DRILL

ARTILLERY DRILL

The New Midshipman

roll-call

sounds at

At

six-fifty.

throughout the year report,

Morning

he must be reported.

for, if not,

is

this

read

formation

conduct

the

which embraces the names of

shipmen who have

67

all

mid-

any way been deHn-

in

quent the preceding day, together with the offence

against

committed. and,

when

discipUne,

Breakfast

they

that

follows

have

immediately

over, the midshipman's

room must

be swept out, bed made, and book shelves, table,

dirt

and

lockers put in perfect order.

The

and waste from the room he sweeps into

the large corridors, which are cleaned later

by the

The

corridor boys.

routine and practical instruction

drill

during the

summer

is

arranged so as to give

everyone the same amount of instruction in subjects that will be of the utmost value to officers in their service Hfe.

One

is

thus kept

busy both mentally and physically, the

latter

work being

many

sufficient to bring

bones and sound sleep to the long hot

The day

summer

is

all

aches to

at the close of

days.

divided into periods comprising

Life at U. S. Naval

68

these hours: 1.30 to 3

9

P.M.

Academy

—8 to 9.30 a.m.; 10 to 11.30 a.m.;

P.M.; 3.30 to 4.45 P.M.;

Sufficient time

is

and 8 to

thus allowed to re-

quarters between each period

turn to

and

make any necessary shifts in uniform. The class is divided into four groups or battalions for administration

The

drill

purposes.

battalions are further subdivided

companies when their wieldy.

size renders

into

them un-

In order to give the organization a

fair start,

who have had who show real

previous

are chosen for acting

company

the plebes

military training or for

and

command

and petty

officers

by the various

whose eyes are keen ard that will

aptitude

drill officers,

for assistants of a stand-

make

the

drill

run smoothly.

These battahon groups form the unit for duties.

One marches

and to

drills

talion groups Shifts are

in these groups.

These bat-

form the fourth-class regiment.

made

midshipmen

all

to meals, to instruction,

in the assignment of acting

officers

and

petty

officers

as

one or another shows himself worthy of pro-

motion or

of meriting reduction.

By

the end

The New Midshipman of

September

is

exceptionally well drilled, and

this

69

regiment of fourth classmen midship-

its

man

lieutenant commander, "plebe four strip-

er,"

is

the best

man

in the class

from the

To have held this an honour the memory of which

military point of view. position will

is

always be cherished.

Until 191 6, the largest class entering

had

comprised 303 members; now, however, the fourth class will contain approximately 632

members, 481 having been admitted up to July

8,

1916.

In the case of

rifle

practice the

noon periods are combined.

owns two

excellent

rifle

two

fore-

The Academy

ranges, one of

six

hundred and the other of one thousand yards, both located across the Severn from the Aca-

demy and

separated from each other

Carr's Creek and

ravine that

is,

by a

by

picturesque,

Little

wooded

in its wild forest beauty, the

place of greatest scenic attraction in the locality of this

The midshipmen going to march from a fonnation and

AnnapoHs.

practice

muster held in front of Bancroft Hall to the

70

Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

name

Santee's dock, the

of this old ship being

perpetuated even though the ship

itself is

but

a memory. This vessel, the Santee, had a history almost as long as that of the

Naval Academy, not as

a man-of-war but as a station ship

in the

Severn so perhaps a short digression as to her ;

may

career

She was a

not be out of place.

political ship built piece-meal

about election

time in recurring years by prospective voters

who had

to be taken care of

Laid

tatives in Congress.

was launched June

1

8,

blockade.

861,

for

What

construction! trip to

in 1855,

by their represendown in 1820, she

and was commissioned

war

service

on the Gulf

a record in speedy war craft

This duty was varied by one

Vera Cruz early

in the spring of 1862.

Having proven an unsuccessful leaving

with

the

blockading

ship,

after

squadron

all

stores not required to take her to Boston,

she sailed for that port August ing there the 23d of the

i,

1862, arriv-

same month,

sailing

thence that October for Newport, became a part of the

Naval Academy

remaining in

r

The New Midshipman Newport

summer

until the

and then

during the life

at

first

when, to

1865 anchored off

For a time she was a gunnery

Fort Severn. ship,

2,

1865,

she returned

together with the school,

Annapolis and on August

of

71

for years

summer hand

—

housed the "plebes"

—they

thus learning ship

until the return of the up-

per classmen from leave on September 30th.

As a punishment, habitual smokers and those leave the Academy limits without author-

who ity,

termed "frenchers," were quartered on

the Santee, apart from the

life

of their class-

mates, to endure the luxurious comforts of a

hammock on

a cold winter's night.

" Wheyi in trouble

Who Who

and disgrace

protects the hardened case ? will,

with parental care,

Shelter, shield,

and keep him there 7 The' Santee'

This use of the Santee was discontinued in 1905, the vessel being then

sanitary. '

"The

Until the

Santee,"

by C.

arrival S.

Institute, vol. xxxix., p. 778.

pronounced unof the present

Aldcn, Proceedings of Naval

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

72

station ship, the Reina Mercedes,

on October

offenders meriting restriction to the

I, 1 9 12,

Santee were simply placed under arrest in their rooms.

After

the

years of consecutive duty with

fifty

Academy

the Santee sank on April

She was soon afterwards sold

and

May

Annapolis

left

8,

for her copper,

19 13, to be biimed

Her name only survives

at Boston.

1912.

2,

as that

of the splendid concrete wharf built to replace

the old wooden one of her time, which collapsed soon after the Santee sank.

To

return to the at

rival

mence

summer

of small

their course

using the standard service

machine gun.

They

rifle

effect

Marking

and so

on,

shipman's attention, and is

happy,

free

and

are taught the use of the

shot.

ing, cleaning guns,

ar-

shooting,

pistol,

fine points necessary to

experienced

range

arm

rifle,

sights, the drift allowances,

and the

On

routine.

midshipmen com-

the range, the

from

of

wind,

develop an

shots, shoot-

occupy the mid-

his period

on the

close restraint, and,

as a result, the time passes

all

too quickly.

The New Midshipman Infantry

drill,

the

usually comes in the

class

is

discipline,

of

period so that the

first

summer days may be

heat of the

The

making

73

separated into

many

avoided.

squads, but

as soon as the rudiments of the manual, facings,

and marchings are acquired, the new midshipmen are placed

main companies.

in the

For swimming instruction, the proficient

swimmers are allowed the second period on from the

certain days in which to practice float

and the spring board across the Severn.

Everyone before graduation must pass an examination in swimming

—that

is

a rigid re-

quirement and failure to learn quickly means

As the

instruction during recreation hours.

years go on,

and more the

when one has wider

friends,

such time

new middy had

efforts

is

interests

begrudged; so

best put forth

and learn to swim.

all

Swimming

is

his

also

taught in the tank in the gymnasium where able instructors are in attendance,

make one the summer

to

arrival in

anxious

learn in spite of everything. season,

August

In

however, prior to the

of the

swarms

of jelly fish

74

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

that then infest the waters of the Chesapeake,

and that are equalled

in quantity only

by

those of the Gulf of Paria, the most pleasure is

obtained in the outdoor swimming across

the Severn.

Seamanship ling boats

is

confined in scope to hand-

under oars and under

When

sails.

examinations in both sailing and swimming

have been successfully passed, permission can be obtained to

during recreation hours,

use,

the knockabouts and catboats that are pro-

vided in liberal numbers for the use of the

midshipmen.

A

on the Severn River

sail

and Chesapeake Bay

and one

pastime

is

that

a most is

enjoyable

always

utilized

by those who become competent small-boat skippers.

The

pulling

are

cutters

double-banked,

ten-oared boats, whose oars after an hour's pull in the sun

seem

sturdy oaks at that.

like veritable trees,

There

is

much

and

to be

learned beside the mere pulling of the boats,

however, for one must

know how

to bring

the cutter alongside a dock or vessel and to

The New Midshipman handle

various

in

it

75

Rules of

situations.

the road must be learned and applied.

The

capsizing of boats under sail occurs not in-

Such capsizings are sometimes

frequently.

unwitting, the result of inexperience, but in

other cases undoubtedly premeditated with

the object of obtaining an unscheduled swim.

In marine engineering the handling of the

steam launches, running the is

fires

and engines,

taught, together with the operation of motor

and

boats, their faults

engines

of

and

peculiarities.

boilers

are

Models

explained

and

the general idea of the motive power of vessels

is

given in a

way

that

is

very easily

comprehended.

Four afternoons period,

gymnasium

the Swedish system of

wrestling

course

is

of

in a week, in the fourth

instruction according to is

given.

The rudiments

and boxing are taught.

immense

This

benefit to the physical

well-being of the individual.

The evening to reading,

Mondays

period

lectures,

—8 to 9 p.m. —

is

devoted

or entertainment.

On

the lecture discusses the discipline

Life at U. S.

76

and the regulations

Naval Academy of the

Academy, an

ex-

planation of the various rules and the reasons for their existence being given.

devoted to reading.

On Tuesdays Each mid-

the period

is

shipman

required to read four hundred pages

is

per month in certain standard works that are

by the Department

prescribed

of English.

For the entertainment of the class on

Wed-

nesday evenings moving pictures that include one of the films of current events are shown

Memorial

the

Hall, the reading-room of Bancroft

On Thursdays

Hall.

in

direction

the lecture given under

the

of

English

department

treats of naval history, English literature, or

other timely topics. is

utilized

battalions,

Occasionally this period

by a competitive debate between some naval problem being

selected.

Friday evenings are allotted to the use of the chaplain or the medical officer for instructive

and

beneficial talks to the

Saturday during plays

in

the

this

fourth classmen.

evening hour the band

auditorium where,

when

so

inclined,

the midshipmen have stag dances

upon the

excellent floor.

:

The New Midshipman

^^

These strenuous days end with the warning call at 9.55 P.M.,

followed five minutes later

by taps when

must turn

any time be

all

by the plebe

lost

Seldom

in.

will

in getting to

sleep.

After the greater portion of the class has entered,

and the battalions have thus ap-

proached a workable arranged wherein

size,

an athletic contest

the battalions take " part the prize for the winner being a "liberty

is

all

;

on a suitable afternoon in September. contests begin about the last

week

in

These

August

and comprise Track and knockabout

field

race,

meet, pulling cutter races,

swimming

race,

wrestling,

boxing, tennis matches,

and

baseball.

These contests make

this

week a

interesting

one,

for

there

is

lively

great

and

rivalry

between the midshipmen of each battalion because of their deep loyalty to the organization of

which they are a part.

assigned for the contest.

first

Points are

three places in each

The battaUon winning has

to

work

not only that week, but has had to be in

:

Life at U. S.

78

Naval Academy

systematic training for this contest the entire

summer.

To

an

standing

to

the

competition takes place in

the

assign

battalions,

efficiency

following branches, the prize again being a liberty as in the case of the athletic contests

Infantry, seamanship, rifle shooting, and swim-

The infantry consists of manual of arms, company and section movements both The actual marks in open and close order. ming.

are determined

puts each

by competitive

member

drill,

which

of a battalion on his mettle

and gives the acting midshipmen

officers

experience such as they will not have again tmtil they

become

first-class

The

men.

sea-

manship points are determined by competition in (a) sail,

cutters under oars,

and

flags.

{c)

The

signals,

(b)

cutters under

wigwag, semaphore, and

rifle-shooting grading

is

given

by

assigning points for each qualification in the

courses as expert riflemen, sharpshooters, or

marksmen.

The swimming

is

figured

crediting five points to qualified

and one point

by

swimmers

to second-class swimmers.

OFFICE OF OFFICERS OF THE DAY

While Studic OFFICE OF DUTY OFFICER

INTERIOR OF QUARTERS

The New Midshipman

79

These two competitions which include

all

the summer's work serve as a definite goal for

which to

strive,

and provide the morale

required to stimulate interest.

Wednesdays

after three o'clock

urday afternoons, drills,

and

all

—such periods being

—are devoted to baseball

Sat-

free of

contests with

such outside teams, as can be obtained for

A

games.

games

series of inter-battaHon

usually contested as well.

Light football prac-

middle of July, this

tice begins the

is

followed

is

by harder training the following month and,

in

the latter part of September, upon the return of certain

upper classmen who have belonged

to the Na\'y football squads, regular training

and practice Tennis

and

is

for this sport

inaugurated.

popular, the courts being plentiful

excellent.

contests

is

Through the means

and sports the

enabled to select the

Navy athletics. On Sundays

men

there

is

athletic

of the

of these officer

new

is

class for

compulsory attend-

ance at church; choir and ushers are chosen

from the midshipmen by means of try-outs.

8o

Life at U. S.

The

first

Naval Academy

break in the routine of these daily

comes during the

drills

week

last

in

August

when the practice squadron returns from its summer cruise, the three grey battleships anchoring in the Roads some four miles distant from the Academy, the depth of water

the channel and the constricted size of

in

anchorage room available forcing this inconvenient procedure.

From

the battleships the

don

upper

classmen

"cits,"

and depart on

and

a brief day the bustle and excitement

in

hasten

ashore,

their

their thirty days' leave,

caused by their arrival and departure are over. Unfortunately a few are always

left

behind,

These comprise

quartered in Bancroft Hall.

those foimd deficient at the annual examinations,

who have

re-examinations to take, on

or about the loth of September, and those

who, on account of living far in the West, are not able leave,

the

for

financial reasons

and who enjoy September

many advantages

at their

of the

to take

in Annapolis,

Academy being

call.

Beginning with the

first

of

September the

The New Midshipman routine for the plebes

is

8i

modified by the sub-

stitution in the second period for the drills

of study

The

and

recitations in

class is divided,

French or Spanish.

one half taking French,

the other half taking Spanish.

only

is

studied

One language

by each group and

this

study

The rifle range practice is omitted this month. Mechanical drawing occupies the third period, gymnasium work taking the fourth period. Thus the busy "plebe" summer passes quickly away to October the ist, when, all is

continued the entire four years.

too soon, the academic year commences with its studies, 6

examinations, and recitations.

:

CHAPTER

IV

ORGANIZATION " The true

test

of

a man's courage

to bear responsibility."

is his

power

—Earl St. Vincent.

The Naval Academy is governed by an officer of the Navy designated as the Superintendent.

The

controlled

by a body

educational part of of officers

its life is

known

as the

Academic Board that comprises the Superintendent,

who has

three votes in the decid-

ing of questions before the Board, and the

Navy Midshipmen, who is

following officers of the active

list

of the

Commandant of Head of the Executive Department, and

the

Heads

of the

the

Departments of Seamanship,

Ordnance and Gunnery, Navigation, Marine Engineering and Naval Construction, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering 82

and Physics,

Organization English,

Modem

83

Languages, and Naval Hy-

giene and Physiology.

Thus, including the

Aid to the Superintendent, who acts as Secretary, the

Academic Board

is

its

composed

of twelve officers.

To and

carry out the education both theoretical

practical of the

midshipmen under the

supervision of the foregoing Board, there are (191 5- 191 6) attached to the of the

Academic

Staff

Naval Academy, one secretary and the

following assistants:

Department

Life at U. S.

84

Naval Academy

In addition to the in order to carry

the two officers engineer

there are required

on the work

—a

—charged

staff,

of the school,

commander and a

civil

with the care and main-

tenance of buildings and grounds; three medical

officers;

officers;

two dental surgeons; four pay

one chaplain; a library force of three

civilians;

and the commanding

officer of the

The

station ship, the Reina Mercedes.

officers

attached to the Naval Hospital (4) the Reserve ,

Torpedo Division

(i),

ment Station

the Post Graduate Depart-

ment

(the

(3),

Head,

the Engineering Experi-

six civilian instructors,

and

twenty-eight officers under instruction), and the Marine Barracks

(2)

form the remainder

of the naval personnel present at the

Naval

Station at Annapolis, Maryland.

The Executive Department cerned with the daily

all

life

is

directly con-

the matters that pertain to

of the

midshipmen with the

exceptions of their class-room of their practical education.

work and most It

undertakes

the task of moulding the individual character

and conduct

of the future officers,

and main-

:

Organization

85

taining the discipline of the entire regiment.

The importance

of this department, the offi-

which are

cers of

in daily intimate touch

with

the midshipmen, can be readily appreciated. Physical training, the infantry and artillery fencing, all athletics,

drills,

of recreations officers

the

executive

its direction.

The

by

their

branch

and example develop

efforts

men

of

come under

and the regulating

the

ence,

qualities of

leadership,

obedi-

responsibility,

command,

thoroughness, and judgment. their intercourse with

in

in the midship-

zeal,

energy,

In other words,

midshipmen, they

endeavour to represent the ideal naval of

whom John

of

September "

officer

Paul Jones writes imder date

14,

1775

He

should be the soul of tact, patience, and charity. No meritorious act of a subordinate should escape his attention or be left to pass without its reward, if even the

justice, firmness,

reward be only one word of approval. Conversely, he should not be blind to a single fault in

any subordinate though,

at the

same time,

he should be quick to distinguish error from malice, thoughtlessness from incompetency, and

:

86

Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

well-meant shortcoming from heedless or stupid blunder. As he should be universal and impartial in his rewards and approval of merit, so should he be judicial and unbending in his punishment or reproof of misconduct."

When worn

out in the trying work that

is

deaHngs with the large

necessary,

in

number

of

midshipmen, they are cheered by

Nelson's

maxim

" Patience

their

and perseverance can accomplish

wonders."

This task

is

more intangible than

teaching engineering and the is

the more

like,

is

that of

and hence

difficult.

The student body

midshipmen

of

is

organ-

ized in accordance with standard naval principles

and customs, and

directly controlled

is

by the Executive Department. of

midshipmen

is

composed

of three companies each

command

of

the

(the "five striper"). rally

The regiment

of four battalions

and

is

midshipman

imder the

commander

This position

is

natu-

the very summit of the midshipman's

Organization

87

ambition and immediately marks the

man who

timate

exceptionally

as

it

fills

for-

prominent both in studies and

in practical

everyday

usually the

in fact,

ability;

he

is

recognized leader in the all-around quaUties

make a man. On the staff of the mental commander are one midshipman that

tenant

and

regilieu-

midshipmen jimior

adjutant, three

lieutenants for the duties of the commissary,

ordnance, and signal ensign, as aid,

officers,

one midshipman

and the midshipman regimental

staff petty officer.

Each

of the four battalions

by a midshipman striper"),

lieutenant

who has

shipman junior midshipmen

a

staff

one the ordnance

and

of a mid-

adjutant,

two

one the commissary and

officer,

staff petty officer.

commanded

composed

lieutenant

ensigns,

is

commander ("four

and one midshipman

Three companies, in the

year 191 5-1 9 16, formed a battalion; though,

with the increased number of midshipmen allowed in the

by the

act of 191 6,

it is

expected that,

academic year 1916-1917, a battalion

will consist of four

companies.

88

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

Each company midshipman

who

is

duties

under the ccmmand of a

is

lieutenant,

or

"three

striper,"

and

assisted in his administrative

by a midshipman junior

and from ten

midshipman

ensign,

midshipmen

petty officers.

are taken from the

of

a

to tweh-e

All these officers

The

first class.

unit for administrative purposes

company,

dri[ll

lientenant,

smallest

thus the

is

Each

which there are twelve.

company comprises midshipmen

of

the

all

four classes distributed in numbers equal to

the

membership

of

their

twelve, which means fifteen to eighteen

in each

class

di\'ided

that, in 1915-1916,

members

by

from

of each class are

company.

The positions of regimental, battahon, and company commanders are by no means empty honours and for show only; on the contrary, they carry

burden

much

of the extra

to leadership. is

responsibility

The

work

and the added

entailed

by

discipline of the

elevation

Academy

administered directly through them by the

commissioned personnel of the executive department.

Midshipmen

officers are

given a

H. M. MULLIN'IX THE NHDSHIPMAX CO.M.MAKDER I915-I916

Organization

89

commission as such signed by the Superintendent,

worthy

who expects them

to

of the trust accorded

show themselves

by maintaining

the high standards of discipline and the most

honourable traditions of a naval service that has never had an equal.

Under the supervision (a

commissioned

Duty

of the

line officer of the

Officer

executive

department present for twenty-four hours at a time in Bancroft Hall), the routine of the midshipman's daily conduct of efficiently is

by the

composed

the regiment

of

who

daily

administered

life is

"duty squad," which

midshipmen.

Members

of

are to compose this squad

are notified of the fact at noon each day; and, at 7,30 that evening w^earing belts

and white

gloves and carrying their regulation books,

they form in the rotunda of Bancroft Hall answering: "All ready,

by the

sir," to their

off -going officer of

muster

the day, and indi-

cating thereby that the regulations regarding their

duty are understood and have been read

within the preceding twenty-four hours. function of the belt and gloves

is

The

to indicate

Life at U. S.

90

Naval Academy

clearly to their fellows that the wearer

duty and must be obeyed he

may

its

work

give.

whatever orders

The duty squad

carries out

for twenty-four consecutive hours.

The "plebe" has his study.

He

is

will require

purposely

left

unhampered

time from

alone to his

order that he

self -discipline in

himself," while

any duties the

scarcely

performance of which

own

in

on

is

may "find

in the efforts that

he must put forth to remain a member of the regiment.

At the end

and orderly method

of a year the routine

of living

have been ac-

quired, so that he logically can be required

to perform duties that assist in carrying on

the work and routine administration of

the

regiment.

The "youngster," or third classman as a second year midshipman is designated, is placed on duty, which is

is

of

two kinds, one that

designed to give him a comprehensive view

of the workings of the organization without

being strictly responsible for any large part of

it,

and the other giving him

sibility.

The

first

duty,

that

direct respon-

of

assistant

Organization officer of the day,

requires

91 presence

his

in

the main office of Bancroft Hall practically

every minute of the day except between il P.M.

and 6.30 A.M.

calls, delivers

to

him by

Here he answers telephone

orders and messages consigned

his seniors, checks

from recitations and This

them.

is

and accounts

drills

for

a busier employment than

might be supposed, and

man

up absentees

it is

a tired midship-

that turns into his hard bed that night

gome half an Jhour

after

the regiment has

so done, and has been accounted for by the

midshipmen inspecting

The second

officers.

that of mid-

duty assigned the youngster

is

shipman

its

in charge of mail,

work that

distribution,

are

officers.

and

requires responsible

Ability and responsibiHty in this

attention. detail

sorting

quickly

So

many

apparent to the senior things go -wrong with the

daily mail distribution of nine

hundred mid-

shipmen that the two youngsters to be successful

must show some appreciation

responsibilities

common

sense.

as

w^ell

as

of

applying

their

much

Life at U. S. Naval

92

Academy

Another way in which leadership

is

devel-

oped and mention of which has not been pre-

made

viously

This

is

common

the placing of midshipmen in

is

of sections for recitations drills,

to all four classes.

and

command

of squads for

such details being for periods of a month

at a time.

The second

classman's

duties

consist

of

being assistant to the midshipmen in charge of

the

first

floors.

These assistants under the

classmen of the floors are charged with

the maintenance of quiet during study hours, the execution of orders, the passing of various

words such as uniform of a certain

ception trifle.

torily

for

the directing

midshipman to report to the

room

or

re-

some other equally apparent

Yet some perform and consequently

and obtain the true

this

duty perfunc-

inefficiently

satisfactorily, while others it

drill,

and un-

put their best into

results that discipHne

demands.

That duty is

is

always paramount to

all else

taught by requiring these duties to be per-

formed regardless of the

call of

an

athletic

Organization team or other

93

Reliefs for such reasons

claims.

are not permitted.

The

classmen, aside from their duties

first

as company, battalion, or regimental

come on duty

in frequent rotation as officer

and as midshipmen in charge of

of the day,

The

floors.

officers,

first class

of floors are assisted

midshipmen

in charge

by second classmen, and

both are charged with the enforcement of the regulations and the reporting of infractions

Rooms

of the same. see that all

is

as

it

are inspected often to

ought to

be.

These mid-

shipmen must maintain quiet and prevent

the

day, designated

gloves,

comes

missioned pline

The

study hours.

visiting during

by

belt

his

officer of

and white

in direct contact with the

officer

who

is

com-

in charge of the disci-

and routine of Bancroft Hall for the day,

and who is able thus to judge of a midshipman's ability

very quickly.

of the

day are

called

The midshipmen officers upon to

assist in

a cour-

manner the parents and

friends of mid-

shipmen, strangers and visitors

who constantly

teous

apply to them for information on one subject

Life at U. S.

94

Naval Academy

They superintend

or another.

drill

and

sec-

tion formations, accounting for the absentees

One

therefrom.

officer of

the day keeps the

rough log or journal of the Academy for the day, this being copied into the smooth log

by

his relief

tendent. drills,

and submitted to the Superin-

This log contains the weather, the

the visits of public

officials,

the exami-

nations, dismissals, resignations, suspensions,

restoration to duty of midshipmen, athletics,

and such incidents

of importance.

Writing

the smooth log occupies the quiet evening hours, while at the of the

day

same time the other

collects,

prepares,

officer

and checks up

the reports of infractions of the regulations

during the preceding twenty-four hours and gives

these

reports

to

the midshipmen in

charge of floors to be written up smoothly,

a battalion on a sheet. These reports come in

from many sources such as duty

drill officers, instructors,

officers,

midshipmen on duty,

The evening study hour is pretty well consumed by this writing of the smooth con-

etc.

duct sheet from the delinquency sheets given

Organization

95

the midshipmen in charge of

by the

floors,

officer of the day.

These sheets are read at

morning

Midshipmen reported are

granted

roll-call. till

the next day to submit statements

regarding the offences with which they are

charged and these statements are considered

with the report before the punishment and the demerits are imposed for the offence.

The

that

ability

midshipmen display

in

performing these duties varies remarkably in degree.

Many

just cannot do

but they discover that in practice

this,

them

as in

at

all

first,

things,

and training help and, as time goes

on, they note an improvement.

added to knowledge

is

Experience

the greatest teacher of

the seaman the world over.

The midshipmen

are carefully graded in

respect to their proficiency as leaders,

by

their

abiHty as displayed in the discharge of these various military duties, marks being assigned

them by the duty other officers with

officer,

as well as

whom they come

These marks determine the tiple,

one that

by

all

in contact.

efficiency

mul-

affects their class standing in

a

—

96

Naval Academy

Life at U. S.

degree considered proportionate to the impor-

tance of the subject.

Thus

it is

seen

how

the organization pro-

vides for the teaching of entrusting pline

of the

maintenance of

to the midshipmen;

standard

upon

much

responsibiHty by-

is

disci-

and whether

to be high or low depends

their esprit de corps,

it^

much

their viewpoint,

and towards

their attitude towards the Service

the officers stationed at the Naval Academy.

These

qualities are controlled

by the Commandant officers of his

of

more

directly

Midshipmen and the

department than by any other

The task

one influence at the Academy.

placed upon the Executive Department of

imparting to the midshipmen the very best viewpoint and the highest

same time holding them regulations rigidly of such regulations,

ideals, while at

to the observance of

and penalizing is

the

no simple

well be considered as the

most

infractions

one, but

may

difficult

and

the most important work at the Academy. " Discipline

is

obedience."

Earl

St.

Vincent.

CHAPTER V ACADEMIC WORK "Scientia navalis ventorum marisgue dominatrixy^

With

the return from leave of the upper

classmen on the thirtieth of September, a

new

routine of studies and recitations begins

and continues

for

eight

months that are

mostly made up of steady book work, or "boning,"

when

There was a time

in the

Academy

the return of the upper classmen was

looked upon with dread forebodings of the

hazing and running certain to be the lot of the "plebe." said

not

on the subject

exist,

absence. '

At present

there

nothing to be

of hazing because

it

does

being conspicuous only because of

its

Like the duello and lynching, haz-

From a work on Seamanship 7

is

97

published October

8,

1807.

Life at U. S.

98

Naval Academy

ing has completely gone out of fashion, and it is

not likely to return.

The academic

with

life

its

associations

becomes dear to the midshipman despite the striving

endless

on graduation

is

for

standing.

The

feeling

a mixture of sadness at leav-

ing one's classmates and an overwhelming joy at being released from the continuous jugger-

naut of a routine and discipline that has given the midshipman hardly space for a quiet

As one midshipman expressed

breath.

he

will

then possess a

moment when he

not have to bone for his

academic year

—which

life,

it,

does

for during the

apparently consisted

of reciting, a return to quarters, a grabbing of

a new

set of

recitation,

books to study for the next

a rush to that

hurried return to devour

and so on mained

in

until

taps

which he

recitation, still

—not

then a

more books,

one minute

re-

could act for himself.

The regularity of the life palled on him greatly and by the end of the fourth year this midshipman considered he had a good excuse running

stale.

for

Academic Work Between

the morning

reveille at 6.30 in

and morning

roll-call at 6.50,

leeway for rubbing

one's

99

there

eyes

or

is little

taking

forty winks even though one be willing to risk being discovered in the act

shipman

on

duty.

Bedclothes

within the

call to

morning

by midshipmen

in dressing.

out in a second

floor

and answer

officer

is

room

their

many

They can turn

name

at roll-call in

As the

inspects the formation during

failed to

many a

put on a collar

discovered; on the other hand,

in the

detection,

is

at the bugle call,

in the four minutes.

midshipman who has is

air

roll-call until

the reading of the conduct report,

or cuff,

be

Remarkable records are made

the last blast.

season, that

to

minutes, four minutes

first five

allowed from the

duty

must

back and bedding arranged

pulled

dress

by the mid-

same

state of

disarray escape

due to the large number to be

inspected by one officer in the very short

space of time that

is

occupied by the reading

of the sheet containing the record of the

reports of midshipmen for violations of regu-

Academy

100 Life at U. S. Naval

on the

lations

in the big mess

previous

Breakfast

day.

hall is the quietest

meal of

the very noisy three, probably because the spirits of

the midshipmen are not yet

ciently aroused

from

sleep, or

suffi-

because some

apprehension as to the success in the day's recitations

is

felt.

Prayers are said upon

the conclusion of the meal by the chaplain, after

which the midshipmen repair to their

rooms

in quick time in order to snatch a

last look at the lessons of the

some

cases,

it is

morning; in

sad but true, to steal a smoke

by the gymnasium

at this convenient hour in the quarters or

the deep recessed doors of

and armory;

to complete their hasty toilet;

and to sweep out

their rooms,

make

their

beds and tidy up their lockers, book shelves,

and

toilet articles.

Two midshipmen are assigned

to one room,

the roommates alternating in taking charge of its policing.

The one

in charge receives

the demerits for any untidiness that exist at

any

may

inspection, except that each

responsible for the

make-up

of his

own

is

bed.

T. J. KELIHER, JR. BUNKELL MIDSHIPMAN LIEUTENANT WEARING REEFER

MroSHIPMAN

G. F.

G. F.

White Studio HLSSEY, JR.

MIDSHIPMAN LIEUT. COMMANDER

MIDSHIPMAN'S ROOM

White Studio

AT RECITATION

Academic Such

Work

loi

derelictions as a chair adrift, a

tightly closed, a dirty

wash

window

basin, shower

bath curtain not properly draped, shoes not in place

under bed, entail one

or dressed

demerit each.

The requirement that one be thus cular in small things pline,

is

parti-

for purposes of disci-

and for the training of the midshipman's

observation in order to develop

it

to that

acute second nature sense so necessary to an officer

on shipboard.

The

sailing ship train-

ing held in the by-gone days implanted this sense of order and alertness in one's

unconsciously and

made

mind

the officer quick

to notice the slightest thing amiss; but, with

the passing of the sailing ship has

come no

substitute save the inefficient one of requiring

the smallest details to be observ^ed, under

pain of conduct demerits that, though deserved, often

fail

to

come because the minute

daily inspection required in order to observe

these things calls for time on the part of ofiP.cers

that

not available.

is

The rooms

in Bancroft Hall are of several

Naval Academy

I02 Life at U. S.

The "plebe" rooms, opening on the

types.

bare central courtyards, are built with a partition in the centre running to a vestibule,

on one

side of

which

is

the shower bath and

on the other the

closet used in

the two plebes.

On

tion

is

locker,

This

each side of the parti-

a single bed, a study table, chair,

and

toilet

stand

and book

arrangement of the room

on the supposition that

midshipman undisturbed. fulfils

common by

any

to

acquire

aids

it

habits

It is questionable

is

shelf.

based

each new

study

of

whether

it

useful purpose, the architect's real

idea being that there would be three rooms

always available for two midshipmen, one for study,

and the

scribed, to

others, like the

one just de-

The num-

be the two bedrooms.

ber of midshipmen has always been too great for the adoption of that plan.

191 6 three or

more midshipmen

be assigned to each room. this partition, fulfils

In the will

fall

of

have to

In consequence,

which renders the room dark,

no useful purpose.

The "youngsters" have

larger

rooms with

;

Academic Work

103

one table for the use of two midshipmen in

common,

two

lockers

(ugly articles), closet,

two

outside, bright

views,

some

stands

toilet

and a shower to rooms

These

rooms.

and

and pleasant,

all

e very-

generally

are

with restful

harbour and bay, others

of the

of the river, others of the grounds.

The second

class

rooms are larger but on

the same plan as are those of the youngsters

the

first class

occupies rooms on the corners

many windows,

with being

included.

thus roomy and

and cold

a closet and a shower

The

living

are

though always bare

light,

in winter.

quarters

No

ornamentation

permitted to the end that there

may

is

be no

visible distinction

between the sons

of rich

or poor parents.

Photographs

may

be ex-

posed only in the locker and upon a desig-

nated

shelf.

Recitations begin at eight o'clock.

day

is

The

divided into three periods, each com-

prising an hour of study tation, the

and an hour

of reci-

midshipmen alternating by months

as to the hours in which they study or recite.

Naval Academy

104 Life at U. S.

Classes are divided, for the purpose

Much

into sections.

recitation,

of

discussion

as to whether these sections should be ar-

ranged alphabetically, by standing

always under way.

is

many arguments method.

or

lot,

and

by

class

There are

against

every

All have been tried at the

Naval

Academy and

all

for

have given about the same

results. The principle in use at West Point whereby the brightest students

general

can delve a

little

more deeply

and pursue advanced at Annapolis.

are

studies

At present

arranged by

is

into subjects

not permitted

(1916) the sections

a rearrangement

lot,

in

every department taking place each term.

As the future dependent

upon

midshipman

no small measure, as

scholarship,

carefully it is

in

career of a

it

To

mark be

this

than

in

Constant

the drill

by

many

This

lectures less feasible

universities

at

end

assigned as

often as possible to each midshipman.

renders instruction

just,

essential that all be

is

marked and graded.

necessary that a

is

is

of

the

country.

things, notably the

Academic Work use of logarithms,

105

so essential that

is

it

re-

quires daily effort on the part of the student

and the assigning

of

a

mark by

the

in-

structor.

Marking, as was adopted by

Buchanan,

on the scale of

is

Commander 4,

the daily

marks being carried out to tenths, and the examination and term marks to hundredths. Students of

who

attain an average for a year

more than 3.40 wear gold

stars

gold anchors on their collars.

behind the

This custom

stimulates a greater zeal for and closer attention to study.

The

possession of a star on

man Upon

the collar distingmshes the wearer as a of brains, application,

and earnestness.

graduation an average for the whole course of over 3.40

"with

means that the diploma reads

distinction,"

an average between 3.00

and 3.40 obtains the notation "passed with credit," while from 2.50 to 3.00 reads simply "passed."

To be

satisfactory for a

term or

year requires a mark of at least 2.50. average

is

This

secured by the great majority of

midshipmen and thus appears not

difficult

io6 Life at U. S. Naval of attainment

mental

Academy

by a studious boy

of

moderate

ability.

The

academic

year

began on October

shipmen

i,

which

1915-1916,

191 5, found 918 mid-

On

in attendance.

April 18, 191 6,

there remained 797 midshipmen divided as follows: first class, 178; second class,

third class, 210;

some

121

ing the

and fourth

class, 220.

Thus

midshipmen had dropped out dur-

first

six

months

can be attributed to

The number

of the year.

dropping of only eighty-two of this

scholastic

189;

failure to attain the

requirement

of

2.50.

The

re-

maining thirty-nine had severed their connection for other reasons, such as dismissal for

bad conduct, physical

disability, or volun-

tary resignations due to personal reasons.

The fifteen

sections consist of between twelve

and

midshipmen, the large number being

caused by the insufficiency in the numbers of officers

and

civilian instructors

The usual method midshipman

of reciting

is

on duty.

to give each

a subject which he writes or

works up on the blackboard, or on a pad

Academic Work at his chair,

him

and the instructor then hears

orally read

and explain what he has

mark according

written and assigns a value.

The marks

a

red-covered book.

little

107

to its

day

are entered each

in

Of course the

student naturally likes to ascertain his mark, so an occasional glance towards the

book

in

an endeavour to note

may

be

its

contents

One professor who happened a midshipman glancing into his mark

attempted. to see

book from a short

"No

use,

distance,

quickly said;

Mr. Doe, your mark

is

too small

to be seen from such a distance."

The

first

part of the hour

is

usually occu-

pied with explanations by the instructor, and,

when

the time

intelHgent questions are asked,

may

be extended.

As there

are on

an average not over three recitations a week for each subject,

it

can be readily under-

stood that each midshipman should receive

a mark every recitation period at which he is

present, for the duty in Bancroft Hall

requires the presence of ten daily, and,

if

first

classmen

the midshipman be indisposed

Naval Academy

io8 Life at U. S.

another day, or a lecture should occupy the third day, no

mark

received for the week.

is

Additional absences are caused by the physical examinations

and other routine

duties.

Lessons are assigned that require concentra-

upon them during the study period

tion

available,

and lucky

is

man who

the

early

The fourth number falling

forms a correct habit of study. class year finds the greater

out because of failure in studies, this being

due partly to the

fact that the habits of study

are as yet unformed,

grounding

in

and partly to insufficient

the

subjects

required

for

entrance.

The

first

period

from 8 to 10.04

is

the second from 10.14 A.M. to 12.14

and the third from

recitations to the

of

march

to and

is

a welcome

During the second period comes the

inspection of rooms

the

The

music of the midship-

men's bugle and drum corps one.

p.m.,

1.20 to 3.20 p.m.

change and air obtained in the

from

A.M.,

by the

battalions.

neatness and

is

made

The

officers in

inspection

charge is

for

quickly and thoroughly,

Academic

Work

109

the locker doors being opened so as to unfold to view the ability of the

midshipman

stowing his many articles in a space

much

in

too

small for them.

The noon that

is

rest is

but an hour, and part of

taken up in the formation and march

to the mess hall at 12.30 p.m., where luncheon is

served.

It

is

a misdemeanour to take

books to the meals; so even

man and

feels

will

if

the midship-

he just must study, he cannot do so

have to content himself with verbal

inquiries of his

messmates unless he

is

willing

to risk the demerits that will surely follow

the detection of a book at mess.

The

two years are occupied

first

chiefly

with the obtaining and the standardizing of the necessary general education required;

the plebe

who

has already covered the scope

of his first year

the course find life

tion

is

is

and used the text-books of

fortunate,

much

easier.

and such a one

will

This general educa-

very necessary and that an officer

should be able to use good English has been best expressed

by John Paul Jones, the fourth

:

no

Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

classman being required to paste in the front of his English note-book this sentence of his

"

None

other than a gentleman, as well as a in theory and practice, is qualified

seaman both

to support the character of a officer in

the Navy; nor

is

any

commissioned fit to com-

man

mand

a ship of war who is not also capable of communicating his ideas on paper in language that becomes his rank." (John Paul Jones, letter to the Marine Board, 1777.)

The English Department its

further models

course with a view to forming military

by developing the personality and individuality of the midshipman distinctly character

along the lines of what

is

known

as the

humanities that can be taught by the studies of history

and

The books read they will have upon

literature.

are chosen for the effect

the mind and character; as a result such

books as biographies of Nelson and Farragut, Carlyle's Heroes in use at the

and Hero Worship are found

Academy.

Summaries

of

the four years'

work are

Academic Work given in Appendix

iii

as a guide to the pre-

I,

paration desired in the years prior to entrance and as an indication of the

and variety

amount

work that must be done

of

in order to pass each

year and finally to

graduate.

After the third recitation and study period

comes one

of

drill,

6.30 P.M. there

is

after

which from

5 to

a time of freedom for the

midshipman when he

can,

and usually does,

devote himself to athletics, the choir, the preparation of the ters

in

Academy

connection

graduation

with

academic dances, the

paper, the mat-

class

and

book, and the

various other activities connected with the

Academy. fectly

some

The non-swimmers and imper-

developed of

men

are required to use

these periods for instruction

and

physical exercise.

Dinner comes at 6.30

p.m.,

noisiest as well as the heaviest

day, for no one

is

it

being the

meal of the

dreading a recitation with

an ill-prepared lesson and the whole evening is

available for study.

112 Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

At 7.30 P.M. the study call is sounded by the bugler, whereupon all must repair promptly to their rooms, keep quiet and bone until

from rooms.

release P.M.,

tattoo,

gun

fire

comes the

From then

until 9.55

at 9.30 with the evening

the midshipmen may use the

time for skylarking, seeing their

classrriates,

reading the papers and magazines, or getting help from

men more "savey"

(bright) than

they.

The total number of hours per week occupied by recitations are sixteen, those available for study are twenty-eight, and those

used in practical instruction and six

and one-sixth hours.

if

are

While, on account

work involved, midshipmen

of the clerical

do not

drills

see their daily marks, they are notified

their

work

is

not satisfactorily done by

the posting on the bulletin boards on each

Saturday morning, of the names of

have been

deficient during the

all

who

week together

with the mark for the week they have been

awarded.

A

This

list is

known

as the "tree."

midshipman may not turn

in until 9

Work

Academic

113

may

no matter how sleepy he

P.M.,

be.

Should he do so and his room happen to be visited

by the midshipman

in charge of the

floor or the

duty

ojSicer,

a report regarding

conduct

will

result,

and

his will

be

When

him.

assigned

demerits

five

tattoo

is

sounded each makes a rush for his own room,

and by the end are turned

save only a few

in,

in their studies

authority

Upon

who

and who have been granted

in,

Hghts are

left

These are turned

the rooms.

are behind

study one half-hour longer.

to

turning

inspecting

of the bugle call of taps all

midshipman

burning in off

officer after

by the he has

satisfied himself as to the presence of the

midshipmen. Class standing

by conduct.

is

some measure

affected in

This

is

as

it

should be, for

experience always proves that the one lives right

whom

and obeys the law

is

who

the one to

in after years a captain of a battleship

on the high sea

will

be able to entrust with

confidence the deck on a dark winter night in

heavy seas or thick

fogs,

and that he

is

Academy

114 Life at U. S. Naval also the

one who

division to your

will

have a good turret and

on that same battleship. country and your seniors

whole thing, to express unit of organization

and

this

is first

Loyalty

it

but mildly,

is

the

in

any

from a squad to a

fleet,

necessary attribute of character

by the midshipman's

indicated

will-

ingness to obey the rules of civilization and right living that

have been

regulations of the

laid

down

in the

Naval Academy.

The men who do behave properly

naturally

more than the

are entitled to something

intentional wrongdoers, the careless, or the

Conduct

shiftless.

established

grades

each month.

are

therefore

For the several

number of demerits must not be exceeded any month: conduct

grades

the

following

First

Grade

Second class Third class Fourth class

The

8

Second Grade

lO

13 16

12

20

third conduct grade comprises those

having more demerits than are allowed for

Academic Work the second grade.

The

115

classmen are

first

not placed on conduct grades or

any ordinary

ject to

leges

due

made

sub-

restrictions as to privi-

to demerits.

It

is

only when,

because of serious and extraordinary offences,

they are quartered and messed on the U.

S. S.

Reina Mercedes, which vessel has taken the place of the old Santee, that they suffer

any

deprivation due to misconduct.

The

many all

craving for tobacco demerits,

its

is

responsible for

use being forbidden to

save midshipmen of the

first class.

striction to the Reina Mercedes

is

Re-

a usual

consequence of the use of tobacco, and this

change of quarters, from Bancroft Hall to the berth deck of this former Spanish cruiser of Santiago

a

first

memory,

lasts

offence to three

offence.

from two weeks for

months

for the third

Further offences result in a recom-

mendation for dismissal as an

Any midshipman who self in this

incorrigible.

cannot discipline him

small matter naturally cannot,

with reason, be expected to amount to in the service later on,

much

and the country

is

Academy

ii6 Life at U. S. Naval

amply justified in not wasting any more money and the time of instructors upon his One who cannot obey further education. cannot lead.

Demerits over twelve for the month in the case of the fourth classmen, entail extra

duty on Saturday afternoons during the

A

following month.

plebes carrying

rifles

group of khaki-clad

and gloomily pacing the

terrace of Bancroft Hall sight every

duty

is

Saturday afternoon.

but an hour, yet

lasts

thus a familiar

This extra

spoils part of the

baseball, football, or other athletic contests for the offenders.

The

from

occupation and to escape

this useless

desire to be

exempted

deprivation of part of the one short holiday

the week affords

is

an incentive towards

avoiding demerits.

The

liberty privileges

vary with the years

until finally the first classman

as free to as

is

is

come and go within the

any

officer

stationed

at

practically city limits

the

Naval

Academy. Demerits are assigned as a record of mis-

V'"

zf/'ssT-'misKimti^M^mi^^K^ ,'mi

MESS FORMATION

THE EXTRA DUTY SQUAD

Academic Work conduct.

The number

received

117

by a mid-

shipman, together with the seriousness of the ofifence

committed,

a real indication of his

is

character, his trustworthiness, his attention

to duty, and

is

thus, in the final analysis,

a true measure of his

The

Service.

longer

midshipman

a

been at the Naval Academy, the there

is

him

for

offences follow as

ment

of

roll-call,

limits,

Naval

fitness for the

has

excuse

less

A

to get demerits.

few

an indication of the assign-

demerits:

—absence

from morning

ten demerits absence from academic

fifty

;

demerits; articles adrift, three

demerits; playing cards or games of chance,

net twenty-five demerits; ordinary neglect of duty, ten;

receiving

without permission,

money

fifteen; profanity, fifty;

inattention to recitation or

erent conduct

at

or supplies

drill, five

;

irrev-

divine service, fifty;

not

properly shaved, three; disorderly conduct, ten to five; out of uniform, three; whistling

during study hours, five; whistHng in Bancroft Hall not during

study hours, one.

board ship the boatswain's

shrill

On

pipe or

ii8 Life at U. S. whistle

is

Naval Academy

the signal that calls attention to

an order or word about to be passed; hence a sailor desires that the whistle be reserved for this purpose alone.

men

Therefore the midship-

are forbidden to whistle

to secure the tune to the

and are ordered

main

bitts

with a

hitch other than a slippery hitch.

Deficiency

in

conduct

is

considered

have been shown when a midshipman have received

to

shall

for the half-year two-thirds

or for the whole year the following niunber

of,

of demerits:

A

First class

150

Second class Third class Fourth class

200 250 300

continuous record of demerits

the whole year, and at the end there

ducted from the

final

kept

is

is

de-

multiple attained

by

a midshipman for a year a certain amount for

each demerit received, which amount First class

Second class Third class Fourth class

is: I

05 02

005

Academic Work

No

119

demerits received by the fourth class

prior to October 1st, are counted, in order to

grant the members of that class the entire

summer

in

which to accustom themselves

to the discipline, the

new mode

and to "shake down," or a part of the future

of living,

find themselves as

Navy

of the

United

States.

A

glance at the merit

roll

of

some

first

classmen shows that from a multiple of 320,

amount taken off for misconduct was 14.20, the least was o.io, the average approximately 3.00, and that those with the greatest

subtractions greater than 15 usually failed of a commission. in

It also

shows that

failures

conduct are the portion of the least worthy

members, a

result

which

is

and a proof that proper living the Naval

Academy

to be expected, is

as essential to

as to other walks of

life.

The midshipman must thus both by his work in studies and work in his discipline prove to the authorities that he his

is

worthy of

uniform and of the generous treatment

accorded him by the government,

120 Life at U. S. Naval

"Every man

gets his chance,"

saying, but one that

every

Academy

is

is

an old

peculiarly true to

member of the regiment of midshipmen.

—

"So here is the rule I command it: Nor Teuton nor Saxon be ye, But all who abide in this household The sons of

this

Fatherland

be.

and master^ and one name^ alien and hated

For, here is but one lord

One

country, one flag,

And they shall Who fail of its

be

weal or

its

fame.''

OUSLEY.

CHAPTER

VI

EXAMINATIONS "Engage

the

enemy more

closely.^*

—Nelson's

signal at Trafalgar.

The

procedure ordered by this signal of

England's favourite naval hero practice

is

put into

by the midshipmen when dealing

with their great enemy, the examinations.

For the midshipman and instructor as well, the all

for the officer or

examinations come

too frequently, but in the case of

former they help mark the

flight of

the

time and

render the day of graduation appreciably nearer.

The academic year

is

divided into two

terms, each consisting of four months, the first

three of which are devoted to advance

work.

Examinations take place 121

in

every

Naval Academy-

122 Life at U. S.

month

subject at the end of each

advance

of

work, and also at the end of the fourth or

review month of each term, this time in the

shape of the semi-annual and annual examinaPortions

tions.

the

of

examinations in

French and Spanish are conducted

the other examinations are written.

all

but

orally,

The

time allowed for the monthly examinations is

one hour and

minutes, while that for

fifty

the semi-annual and annual

is

four hours

and forty minutes divided into two

periods,

each of two hours and twenty minutes, a

welcome

twenty minutes being

recess of

A

lowed between periods.

al-

fourth classman

has four subjects to study, the third classman

has

five,

the second classman has

the

first

classman

six,

and each

number

the corresponding

five,

and

class

has

monthly and

of

half-yearly examinations.

A review for an examination in one subject while progress

still

is

being maintained in

the other three to five subjects task,

but one that

always, judging

by

is

is

a

difficult

performed well nearly

results.

In order that

Examinations

123

the tests shall be fair both as to time and as to subject matter, they are structors,

as they

on time and

worked by

in-

same manner

in the

would be by midshipmen, and are

then altered until they are of the correct length and composed of proper questions, that

is,

questions that should be easily an-

swered by midshipmen who have paid attention to

and understood the subjects as they

went over them the

first

time.

Facing the entrance to Bancroft Hall

is

a

wooden bust of an Indian mounted on a brick

pedestal.

This

bust

was once the

figurehead of the ship of the line Delaware^

having been placed upon that vessel in 1821.

The bust

represents

Tamanend, the

cele-

brated ancient chief of the Delaware Indians,

who

died before the white

this country,

men

and who was regarded by the

Indians as one

who never had an

The midshipmen, however, this

bust

This

is

ever came to

"Tecumseh,

equal.

universally call

the

god

of

2.5."

one of the few reminders of early

academic days that

still,

remain

in

view.

Academy

124 Life at U. S. Naval

As

2.5

the lowest satisfactory

is

a not uncommon sight to see a marches proper

mark

it

is

class, as it

down "Devil's Highway" (the name being Stribling Walk) to

"Satan's Palace" (as the Academic Building is

known) on the way to examinations,

this

salute

wooden bust gravely when passing

order to invoke

marks

aid

obtaining good

in

in the examination.

Upon

reaching the place of the test the

midshipman ton

its

in

collar

his

take out his watch, unbut-

will

and

blouse,

settle

himself

comfortably, then pick up the paper of questions

and read

see at once

it

over in order that he

what he can and what he cannot

do, feel joyful or sad as the case

and tackle the best.

room

first

An

may

be,

the questions he understands is

present in the

to answer questions,

and make the

meaning arises.

may

clear

instructor

in

the places where doubt

Although placed

close together

and

under no watchful eye, seldom or never does there occur a case of gouging or cheating.

The midshipman body

will

not tolerate such

AT EXAMINATION'S

ISHERWOOD HALL CONSTRUCTION. AND THE HOME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE ENGINEERING AND NAVAL FORilING THE POST-GR.\Dl,ATE DEPARTMENT. SECTIONS LEAVING RECITATION FOR THE RETURN .NL\RCH TO B.\NCROFT HALL

Examinations and as a

practice, in,

not indulged

notwithstanding the great temptation in

many it

result, it is

125

cases so to do

might be done.

and the ease with which

Every midshipman who

has recited during a month in any subject

must take the examination none are exempt because

The exammations

in that branch;

of high standing.

give an indication of the

extent to which the midshipman has absorbed

the subject, as well as of the efficiency of the instruction given.

This method has stood

the test of time, and

have

failed to bring as

At the completion in each

term a

men who, in

all

any

list is

for the

other methods tried

good

results.

of the second

month

posted of the midship-

two months, have attained

subject, a final

mark

of less

than 2.50,

with the subject and the mark attained.

The

list

posted at the beginning of December

has received the

name

of the

tree"; that posted early in April

"Christmas is

known

as

the "Maypole." Studies are of two kinds

—those continuous

for a year and those completed each term.

Naval Academy

126 Life at U. S.

A

midshipman

failing at the

term to obtain a 2.5

may

end of the nrst

in a continuous subject

be permitted to pursue that subject

eventually

make up the

failure

a completed

in

and

Such a

deficiency.

study necessitates

another examination in which he must obtain 2.50

if

he

is

to retain his status in his class.

The month and term marks have much greater weight than have the examinations in determining the final merit for the

or term.

The

month

present system as regards the

weights assigned examinations relatively to recitation

room work and

take the tests tried,

is

in requiring all to

the oldest, the most often

and has proven the

best.

Many

at-

tempts to modify the system have been

made, but on

trial all

have proven

failures,

a return being necessitated to the present all

and

gives the proper emphasis to recitation

and

one, which appears the fairest toward

examination work.

a poor showing at

Many midshipmen make recitations,

due largely

to diffidence, but succeed in telling on paper

what they have absorbed

of the work.

The

Examinations

127

examination appears to strike about the right average

who

top

and

keep

to

mark

month

for a

at

the

The method

deserve to be there.

reaching a

men

those

the average of the recitations

of

to multiply

is

by two, add

to

mark made on the examination, and divide the sum by three; the result is the midshipman's mark for the month. To dethis the

termine the

final for

monthly marks this

is

sum

added

being

is

a term, the mean of the

multiplied

by three and

the examination mark,

divided

by

four,

the

to

the

quotient

being the midshipman's final for the term.

To

the term

mark

the product giving subject,

the

and the sum

the figure

coefficients

1846, four

multiple for that

of the multiples gives

by which the midshipman's stand-

ing for the year of

applied a coefficient,

is

is

determined.

was adopted

months

was founded, and

after the

This system in

February,

Naval Academy

its siu-vival

to the present

date speaks well for the sagacity of

mander Buchanan,

its

originator.

enters into the multiple

Com-

Conduct

by the deduction

128 Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

of a figure as explained in the preceding chap-

Out of this final possible maxima of eight

ter.

hundred the midshipman who graduated at the head of his class in June, 19 15, had attained a figure of 711.90, and the

first

eighty-

one in the same class secured over six hundred.

That

class represented

The

cases of

an average

result.

midshipmen who

all

fail

to

attain the final 2.50 for a term are considered

and gone over Board

in detail

at its frequent meetings held in the

administration stance

by the Academic

building.

Every

circum-

might have operated to the

that

midshipman's disadvantage, such as absence

due to sickness or injury, together with the nature of the

illness or hurt, is ascertained

and carefully weighed before a decision made. will

A

careless

and

shiftless

is

midshipman

not be deemed as worthy of leniency as

one who has tried hard, and who thus shows he possesses one of the essential characteristics of

an

officer.

averages at in but one or

the

Slightly unsatisfactory

semi-annual examination,

two subjects when those sub-

Examinations Is

129

:

Naval Academy

130 Life at U. S.

jects are continuous, will usually not result in a discontinuance of the delinquent's con-

nection

with

the

made up by

that the deficiency will be

work

A

of the remaining

failure at the

hope being

the

course,

months

the

of the year.

semi-annual in completed

studies necessitates a semi-annual re-exami-

nation in the second week in in the

A failure

May.

annuals requires a re-examination in

the second week of September,

shipman who has

if

the mid-

failed is so fortunate as to

be adjudged worthy of another

trial

to deter-

mine whether or not he

will

be continued with

Some who

fail

are turned back

his class.

into the next lower class, providing alwa3^s

that even

when

so reduced they will

upon

graduation be not more than twenty-four years of age.

Thus

there

is

no way

for the

midshipman to avoid examinations they must ;

be squarely met.

An

absence in the hospital

only means a short postponement of the ordeal. In order that the academic routine

more

easily understood a typical

follows

may

be

calendar

Examinations >,

4

1^

HI

o\ IH I

Pi

< Q

rt

t-i

^

aj

c c S

s o

o

.2.9 _C

g 'a .3
rt

c3

rt

03

_ C C

^ o W)

<^

0^

o.

i^ O

rt •-^ (J.

tj

COC

cj I-

O X X C

131

132 Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

One widely spread bit of misleading mation was printed recently by many

infor-

of the

best newspapers of the country to the effect that a midshipman of

failure

in

had been dropped because

but one subject, mechanical

That designation

drawing.

misleading because

it

does not

alone, but the important ject

of this study

mean drawing

mathematical sub-

descriptive geometry

of

midshipmen must pass

is

as

and too much

placed upon

it

at the

the

Even

the mechanical

very necessary to the

after years

well;

in this branch.

without the mathematics,

drawing

is

officers in

insistence

is

not

Academy.

Examination papers are marked carefully

by the

instructors;

should result,

if

a mark below a 2.50

the paper receiving such a

mark is read by another he gives must not assigned

by the

officer,

differ

officer

paper.

A

reading,

by the Head

over

who

and the mark .2

first

marked the

greater difference requires a third of the

Department, and

a reconciling of the disagreement.

were

from that

sufficient officers

on duty,

If there all

papers

Examinations

133

probably would be read twice, as was done in former years

when the number

men was much

less

of

careful

result

this

of midship-

The

than at present.

system

is

the

safe-

guarding of the midshipman's interest in

every way.

The standard and the

obtain,

required

is

failure to pass is generally

the fault of something that of the

hard to

not

midshipman

it is

to avoid.

along in spite of himself.

in the

power

He is helped When he fails

to attain the moderate 2.5 out of the possible

4.0

it

is

time for him to drop out and

the best boys in

have them.

let

The Navy needs the country, and should

another boy have his

try.

There are plenty who,

if

al-

lowed the opportunity to replace the ones

who

fall out,

the 3.0.

who

will

make more

2.5 officer type, that

nearly is,

one

does not put forth his best efforts at

the Academy,

he

can and

The

is

only a effort.

is

not needed in the Navy, for

likely to continue to give the service little

of his power, never his

Rather than make

maximum

officers

of

boys

134 Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

who will not work to attain a high percentage, the Navy can better take hard workers such as the hardy Gloucester fishermen

and edu-

The Navy needs officers but it has no use for idlers, and the boy who cancate them.

not, or will not, try to pass the

mental requirements

the

of

well be spared from the It is

moderate

Academy can

Navy's personnel.

the endeavour of the course at the

Academy

not to teach a naval officer all he

should know, for that sible of

is

manifestly impos-

accomplishment in the four years,

but the groundwork

is

given and the mid-

shipman has learned how to concentrate,

what to study, and how

to

thoughts in speech and writing.

Johnson expressed

"Knowledge

is

express

his

As Doctor

it:

of

two kinds: we know a

we know where we can information upon it." The wide range

subject ourselves, or find

of subjects covered

by the midshipman

in

such short spaces of time equip him quite largely with

knowledge

In later years he

is

of this second type.

then able to become an

Examinations

135

expert in whatever branch of his profession

he

may

be doing duty.

Examinations help

the midshipman to become self-reHant, to

think for himself, and to aspire only to a place he can earn his

own.

It is

memory work but

it

is

is

by conscientious work

of

no doubt true that much required of a midshipman,

not possible to have

when the time permitted and

it

otherwise

the ground

that must be covered during the midship-

man's

life

at the

Academy

are considered.

CHAPTER

VII

PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION AND DRILLS

"The

tools to

him

that

can handle

them.''*

Carlyle.

In order to understand how to

operate

mechanisms

it

is

to care

for and

necessary that

they should be disassembled and examined. This process cannot, for obvious reasons, be

and hence the

taught on shipboard, practical instruction in

at the

Academy.

real

machinery must come

Much

of such instruction,

especially in the purely professional branches, is

imparted by means of

drills

ment the purely academic is

which supple-

recitations.

It

becoming more evident as time goes on

that an increasing instruction

is

amount

of this sort of

necessary, with the result that

recitation time

is

now 136

gradually being en-

Practical Instruction

and

Drills 137

make up

croached upon more and more to the lack of

drill periods.

This

is

for

especially

true in the departments of Marine Engineer-

and Naval Construction,

ing

of

Electrical

Engineering and Physics, and of Ordnance

and Gunnery.

Sections in their recitation

periods are diverted and given practical instruction at the models

and machinery.

The English Department it

of

advisable to extend after-dinner

desirable

similarly found

its course,

speaking

accompHshment.

the inclusion

being

deemed a

In the effort to

teach this art once a week a special dinner is

served in the recreation hall of Bancroft

Hall, the first-class

men, one company at a time, and

each midshipman at to rise

its

is

is

required

Thus the

continued into the last

by encroaching upon the already scant

time for recreation. great

conclusion

and make a short speech.

course in English year,

smoking-room, for the

first-class

deal

of

This feature does a

good and the midshipman

accepts the instruction in the spirit in which it is

given.

138 Life at U. S. Half

the

Naval Academy periods

recitation

to

allotted

certain branches of the subject of

Marine

Engineering are utilized in practical instruction with the models

and appliances

well-equipped plant. Engines, boilers, ice

of its

pumps,

machines, measurements of power,

explosion engines,

oil

tests,

engines, ship-building

models are available and

In Ord-

utilized.

nance and Gunnery each midshipman actually measures the velocity of a pistol

bullet,

operates a range finder, a torpedo director,

and

is

made

to understand a turret mount,

firing circuits,

of

the

and the

service

intricate

machinery

and

launching

torpedoes

tubes and mines.

All these are fully ex-

plained to the midshipmen and they actually

handle

all

instruments

these

during

It is true this

recitation periods.

instruction borders

upon the

also that actual lectures

the

method

of

lecture system,

do come quite

often,

despite the necessity for marks, previously

pointed

out,

in

order to grade the

mid-

shipmen.

The

recitation periods last until 3.20 p.m.,

White Studio

FIVE-INCH LOADING DRILL

White Studio

FIRE CONTROL DRILL

Practical Instruction

which hour there

after

instruction

known

nomer because

and

Drills 139

another period of

is

as the drill period; a misassociated, in the

it is

of the majority, with nothing

but

or infantry manoeuvres, whereas of essentially practical instruction.

shipman must at the end

minds

artillery

it

consists

The mid-

of his last recita-

tion hour shift into the proper uniform for

whatever

drill

he

is

to attend.

On Mondays,

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays the time of the drill period

is

from 3.40 to 4.50 P.M.;

on Saturdays from 10.20 There drill

is

very

little

A.M., to 12.10 p.m.

infantry and artillery

held because of the great variety of

work a seaman

is

present time.

All

called

upon to do at the

drills

are held

distinct object in view; there is killing

time because there

is

the outdoor

November, drills of

drills

no need

of

none available

to be wasted in such a fashion.

weather conditions the

with a

Owing

to

are divided into

drills

that take place in October,

April,

and May, and the indoor

the months of December, January,

February, and March.

140 Life at U. S. Naval Visiting educators

pronounced the

Academy

have without exception

electrical laboratory of the

Naval Academy

an equal in

to be without

any one institution of learning in this country. In view of this fact a rather detailed outline of the practical instruction in that depart-

ment

will

be given even at the great risk of

making some decidedly course of experiments laid

The

dull reading.

Is

progressive and

is

out so as to Illustrate the principles

covered in recitations.

Each experiment

described on a card

is

or in a pamphlet given to the midshipmen.

The apparatus

to be used, the object of the

experiment, and the method to be followed are clearly stated. statics

are

For example.

taken up:

— How

In electro-

electricity

is

produced, the kinds of electricity and their action; tricity

by the use of is produced and

come conductors and

static its

machines

action

their

elec-

shown next

use.

;

Including

lightning conductors, experiments with voltaic cells,

then the magnetic properties of

currents, followed

by measurements

of re-

Practical Instruction sistance, all

of

and

Wheatstone bridge,

Drills 141

slide wire bridge,

which are taught in corresponding

A

detail.

study of types of windings of

generators and motors from diagrams, and

by winding

The

dummy

efificiencies of

armatures

is

now

given.

generators and motors are

determined by measurements and calculations, as are various losses that

reduce the

efficiencies,

such as the mechanical

stray

copper

will

loss,

loss.

losses,

The midshipman

next determine regulation, the character-

istics of different

types of machines, and show

the types of motors and generators that

produce the best results under given conditions of load

and speed regulation determine ;

the best type of motors to use with constant speed, variable speed, constant load, variable load, other conditions of load; the different

types of control and safety apparatus and the uses to which they are adapted; the

methods

of distribution; the

method

of ob-

taining a neutral for a three- wire direct current

system by means of

slip rings

and a reactance

with the distribution of three-wire to com-

142 Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

bined motor and lamp load, which method is

being used upon the later battleships; the

method by which cuits in

fractures

an armature or a

and short

field

cir-

may

winding

be located; the measurement of the copper

and how to

resistance of generator windings

determine the soundness of the insulation

by

resistance measurements; connecting

and

putting in condition to deliver power a motor generator

telephone calling and talking

measiirements of the

service, rise of

set,

temperature

the various parts of a direct current

motor or a generator by resistance measurements and by thermometer. taken up in practical

All these are

detail.

Instruction in radio includes the actual setting

up

of

and operating radio

Dur-

sets.

ing the study of the subject the

various

appliances are shown the midshipmen.

the

fleet

there

is

need of radio

ways and thus a great deal focussed upon the subject.

In

officers

al-

of attention is

In order to

make

operators of the midshipmen, a radio message is

sent

by a telegraph key that works a buzzer

and

Practical Instruction in each section

room

every recitation, and

news

press

midshipmen are

all

down

the message.

intercepted and

is

Then

who come

midshipmen send

out this press news by blinker, that signals of

an

first

duty voluntarily.

for this

at 9.30 p.m., these

taken

by four

each night in the radio station classmen

and at

of every class

required to read and take

The

Drills 143

is,

flash

which signal

electric lantern,

can be read by any midshipman

who may

so

desire.

There are also assigned to a part of the winter the interval from the

drills

work

is

Department

drill periods,

December

must be held

periods the

this

to

indoors.

covering

March when During these

concerned rather more

with the practical applications of electricity

than with the working out of experiments to illustrate the theory of the apparatus.

Thus

faults

are

introduced

into

various

systems, and the midshipmen are required to test for, locate,

short circuits,

and

correct them.

and blown

Grounds,

fuses are introduced

into the various lighting, power,

and

tele-

Academy

144 Life at U. S. Naval

phone

circuits;

broken

armature, winding;

—

short circuits in a motive

connections

a

in

field

in short all the defects that are

likely to confront the practical electrician.

Their discovery and correction by use of the proper instruments and methods are then left

to the midshipmen.

tion

of

generators

stopping, and

The practical opera-

and

motors,

connecting them in various

ways to produce required part of the

starting,

drills.

made

results are

Also the

difficulties

that

are likely to occur in their practical operation are introduced

and must be overcome.

These are intended to bring home the right

and the wrong way

of doing things as

well as to teach a quick recognition of is

the trouble and the cause

of

it.

If

what

a gen-

erator refuses to generate, a circuit breaker flies

open, a fuse blows, or a motor stops, a

telephone goes dead, the midshipman must find the defect

and correct

it.

Some

startling

incidents occasionally occur while midship-

men

are thus

working, but

are used everywhere, and no

safety devices

damage

results,

While Sludio

TORPEDO INSTRUCTION'

Vfhite Sludio

SPOTTING DRILL

Practical Instruction

and

Drills 145

while the incident serves to impress upon the

experimenters a method to be avoided.

A

devoted to practical

part of the time

work and

drills is

theory

illustrated

is

The

used for radio work.

by experiments involv-

ing the use of various parts of the sets, appa-

and connections; the

ratus,

drills

require the

practical connecting up, tuning, sending,

and

receiving messages.

The marine engineer must now master seven distinctly different types of propelling

machinery, which are: Reciprocating steam engines, Parsons direct drive turbine, Curtis

drive

direct

turbines

turbine,

with

electric

mechanical

reduction

Diesel engines, gasoline engines.

shipman must know little

all

propulsion, gear,

The mid-

these as well as a

about producer gas plants, hydrauHc

reduction gear and possible combinations of all

types.

during

Much

drills

of this instruction

and much by

is

given

practical recita-

tions during the recitation period as in the

case of the electrical instruction.

The

drills consist of practical

instruction

146 Life at U. S. in.

the use of tools, the operation of machines,

and the application

of mechanical processes

This instruction, supplementing

generally.

as

Naval Academy

does the academic course, continues

it

throughout the four winter months of each year and

is

comprehensive enough to give

midshipman

each repair

practical

knowledge

Not only

and construction work.

of is

he taught to handle machinery but also to keep ship

it

is

A

in serviceable condition.

an intricate assemblage

of

battle-

mechanical

appliances requiring most intelligent care and

upon each unit the ship depends to maintain at

its

maximum

The naval

efficiency.

officer is

in order

her military

charged with

the upkeep of this powerful and extensive plant and operation.

is

held responsible for

How

its

successful

powerful a plant this

can be imagined when one

indicated horse power of our proposed battle cruisers

new

must approximate one hundred

and seventy-five thousand. is

is

realizes that the

The naval officer

repeatedly confronted with problems pecu-

liar to

naval practice and the requirements

Practical Instruction

and

Drills 147

that the engineer and machinist elsewhere

cannot solve; emergency repairs constantly

upon

arise

which he

ings

must be made, parts must be manuand

factured,

called

is

to direct; cast-

these with the limited facilities

at hand.

Upon

his entrance in the

fourth classman tion in tools

know

is

summer, the new

given elementary instruc-

and machines.

He

begins to

a pump, a boiler, and an engine, and

before the

summer

He

engine.

is

is

over, he can run a launch

shown

also

how

to hold his

drawing instruments and to use them so that

upon the beginning is

of the

academic year he

ready to take up the drawing of machine

parts.

The

following year as a third classman he

works at the of filing

test

bench and learns the value

and scraping.

In the pattern shop

he makes the patterns which he afterwards casts in the foundry. is

In the forge shop he

instructed in iron working, and in the labo-

ratories

he observes engines and auxiliaries

operating under service conditions.

Naval Academy

148 Life at U. S.

During the second-class year he lathes in the

machine shop, and works with

the coppersmith and boilermaker,

He

boilers.

fitting

takes up this year also the

study of gas and

oil engines,

which are every-

where replacing steam engines

The work

brazing

and

joints, expanding tubes, repairing

up

at the

is

in

power boats.

in his first-class year

power

to the use of large

nal combustion,

tools

;

is

applied

tests of inter-

reciprocating

and turbine

engines; analysis of flue gases; water tests, effects

corrosion,

of

and the study

calibration

of

shafts;

of the details of ship construc-

tion from models.

Every

effort

is

advanced to make

this

engineering course progressive in character.

So extensively

moment

is

is

the

field

covered that every

occupied in a

maximum

efficiency based

of years.

For many years

way

to produce

on the experience in order to thor-

oughly master the machine shopwork, the second class spent the summer at Annapolis instead of on the practice cruise.

summer of 1894

this schedule

In the

was interrupted

Practical Instruction

by the sending

and

Drills 149

to sea in the Bancroft, of the

second classmen in July, and since then the

summer

of

machine work has never been

The inadequacy, due

restored.

time, of the present instruction

by the

now

graduate,

is

being felt

and postgraduates

are

to be given a thorough course in the

handling of

Each

to lack of

all

shop tools and machinery.

professional department

is

thus utiliz-

ing to the utmost the splendid plant of the

Academy, and giving the midshipmen a won-

modern

derful insight into the mysteries of

machinery.

There

so

is

in the four years that

much

it is

some two or more years

will

to be learnt

not strange that

be required after

graduation before the real ability in the use of

this

information

is

During

developed.

the four years there are but 442 recitations

Marine Engineering, 340 in Electrical Engineering, and 153 in Ordnance work, all

in

being supplemented by the practical work on

shipboard during the three

summer

that the midshipmen take unless

cruises

sickness

or other causes prevent their so doing.

150 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

The Seamanship Department drill begins with the first summer and continues throughout the four years. The plebe has much cutter

drill,

both pulling and

Severn forming a

drill

zone that

too rough to be used; and season arrives he

when

the

seldom

is

the indoor

occupied with instruc-

is

and

tion in knotting

sailing,

splicing, in signalling

with the semaphore and

flags,

the nomen-

and

clature of boats, the compass, the log,

all

types of lead lines and other sounding appaSimilar

ratus.

drill

work

is

carried

on

through the third-class year in a more ad-

vanced way, with the addition

of wire splicing

The second classmen take

and sailmaking.

out the ship steam launches, of which there is

a

are

fleet at

now

men,

the

Academy, steamers

called, acting as engineers

as they

and

signal-

also in the pulling cutters as signalmen,

and as

assistants

coxswains.

and understudies to the

The midshipman

class also learns the

under

sail in

the

of the second

handling of small boats

many knockabouts,

and cutters that are available.

catboats,

His work

STEAM

ARGO" UNDER

SAIL.

TACTI'^-S

CUTTERS UXDER OARS

Practical Instruction in the indoor drill season

and

Drills 151

becomes that of

learning signals, the use of the appliances on ship's bridge,

how

to write

up and keep the

log,

the general navy nomenclature, and the

details of the logs

under as he

this is

and

department, the

so soon to

In his

leads.

become an

first

classman,

officer, is

the officer's part to perform as

In the steamers, he

possible.

is

drill

given

much

as

the cox-

swain, and in charge, handles the signal book

and works to signals.

he

is

Two

steamer

his

manoeuvres

In the cutters and half-raters

handHng both oars and

in charge,

sails.

torpedo boats and the tug Staiidisk are

Academy

attached to the

and the

how

in fleet

to

first

for drill purposes

classmen observe and practise

come alongside and leave docks,

to

pick up moorings, to put in use the rules of

the road, to steer, to give proper orders to

rudder and engines.

and the Argo, a spectively, give

Then

the Robert Center

sailing cutter

them

and yawl

re-

opportunity for gaining

experience in handling larger saiHng vessels.

A

sad

moment

for first

and second classmen

152 Life at U. S. alike

it

is

Naval Academy

when, picking up their moorings

on centre,

in a steamer, the engines stop, get

and the boat does the causes

damage

rams the

inevitable,

dock hard enough to throw

all

hands down,

and a

to the boat,

The

the midshipman's efficiency mark. in

knockabouts and catboats

is

fall

in

drill

materially

lengthened at times by lubberly work in picking up moorings under ing

hand

is

No

sail.

help-

extended to one in trouble, the

midshipman must get there by

himself.

The "plebe" finds that he must learn among the many new things the art of dancing, to the teaching of

which there are devoted

sixteen drill periods in the winter months,

these being supplemented

by extra

lessons

during recreation hours should he desire to avail himself of them. in the

Trophy

The

drills

are held

Hall, the plebes of three

panies attending at the same time.

Gym-

nasium work, seamanship, and infantry are assigned the same

number

during this winter period.

com-

drills

of periods

The plebe thus

does not have quite the variety in

drills

Practical Instruction that

falls

Drills 153

The

to his portion subsequently.

classmen

fourth

and

artillery drills

have more infantry and

than do the other classes dur-

ing the winter months, in order that they

may become

used to military discipline and

their bearing be improved.

Infantry and artillery

drills

are

still

re-

quired in the training of midshipmen as the battalions of

towns or lieved

seamen

first

land and occupy

fortresses, holding

by the

them

until, re-

arrival of the marines, they are

enabled to re-embark on their ships. drills

Such

are under the charge of the Executive

Department and comprise packing the knapsack for landing force, outpost, advance and rear guard work, guard mount, etc., in addition to the regulation infantry tactics.

year

are

and

artillery

But twenty-eight periods the allotted

for

such

drills.

entire

Dress

parades take place only during the week of the annual examinations and of graduation.

The regiment

as a whole also parades as

infantry at special

functions,

such as

the

inauguration of the President of the United

154 Life at U. S. States,

Naval Academy

and the unveiling

of

monuments such

John Paul Jones. In the spring days the midshipmen

as the one to

first class

of the

are seen at different points in the

yard using the theodolite and plane table

and measuring base

an application

lines, as

of the surveying instruction that has been

given during the class-room work.

Others

are "shooting the sun," using the artificial

horizon in order to determine true azimuths, latitude,

side

and chronometer

In-

corrections.

work with the navigation course includes

the compass corrections and the magnetic instruments, together with

work on

charts, this

much

practical

work continuing with

the recitations throughout the year.

The youngster struction with

begins

drills.

Ordnance

There are

periods during this year. tion of

his

in-

fifteen

such

The major

por-

these, all except three in fact, are

devoted to small- arm shooting on the range

where he continues the course which he began during his

first

summer

at the

Naval Acad-

emy, and has continued by four periods

his

1

and

Practical Instruction

The

plebe year. all

Drills 155

made

effort is

to qualify

midshipmen as sharpshooters and expert

riflemen in addition to

tent

to handle the automatic pistol,

service

gun.

making them compe-

rifle,

The

the

and the automatic or machine

length of time

is

hardly sufficient,

however, for the mastery of these arms.

The gun

drills

are held

first

at the six-inch

loading machines where accuracy

first,

and

The

rapidity second, in loading, are taught.

midshipmen crews work down to about ten complete loads in 39.5 seconds, which

is

Then, after becom-

exceptionally fast time.

ing expert with loading machine, they are exercised at the actual loading of the 5^-5

gun.

The second

class

review the loading

drill

with casualties and safety requirements,

and

in addition

they are given dotter and

boresighting practice together with sufficient sightsetting.

most

modem

The

boresighting taught

method,

it

is

the

being hoped that

the older sights in service will gradually be replaced

time to

by the later ones, and there is no teach more than principles. Just

156 Life at U. S. prior to the

end

midshipman

two days

is

Naval Academy

of his second-class year the

given a week that comprises

of spotting,

stallation instruction,

order that he of

one of

and two

may have

what comprises the

fire

control in-

of plotting in

a good general idea

installation for govern-

ing the battery before becoming a

man upon

Academy during

the fire

summer

his

control

drills

time allotted

first class-

At

practice cruise.

first-class

year these

take the major part of the

to ordnance, although there

are four days devoted to torpedo practice

and one day

to handling mines.

A

little

torpedo boat, the Biddle, of 175 tons

dis-

placement, takes the midshipmen into the

bay where they adjust and

man

fire

a torpedo,

a boat, recover the torpedo, return to

the ship and hoist

it

aboard, taking

all

steps necessary in the most approved ner.

The mine

drill consists of

by the midshipmen

Every

in

first

this

man-

the assembly

of three types of mines,

which are then inspected. omissions

the

The

faults

work are pointed

and out.

classman also handles a range

and

Practical Instruction finder,

makes

Drills 157

the adjustments, and by-

all

personal touch gets familiar with the instru-

ment even though the place recently:

Midshipman.

— "This

very useful in a

Instructor

and neither This

following did take

range finder

fog, is it?"

(a

is it

most

fitting retort).

humdrum work

— "No,

and

relieves a

of routine.

The midshipman thus has a of practical

not

any use to a blind man."

of

helps the instruction

all

Httle of the

is

great variety

of all types, too Httle in

each to permit of his becoming an expert or to bring

monotony

to

him but

sufficient to

ground him

in the

profession.

The comprehensive grasp he

rudiments of the naval

attains of the general scientific cal apparatus,

limitations officer,

fits

with

him

the

and mechani-

knowledge

of

to hold the position of

who must understand

his tools,

its

an be

they located on the bridge, the turrets, or the engine

room platform,

direct a ship or squadron.

if

he

is

to efficiently

CHAPTER RELIGION

—DISCIPLINE—MORALE

than poor

The dome is

the

first

men

good

"Historically, better

VIII

men

with poor ships are

with good ships."

— Mahan.

Naval Academy chapel

of the

object that greets the eye as one

approaches AnnapoUs either by land or

As the grounds

of the

entered, this chapel

building and

is

Naval Academy are

the most conspicuous

ever present from

Possibly

thereof.

is

it

sea.

all

parts

was thus planned

in

order to keep within the horizon of the mid-

shipman's

life

the Creator of

the fact of the existence of all

good,

if

such a reminder

be deemed necessary by any, or to kindle his zeal

and industry

as he realizes that in its

crypt rest the remains of the Navy's

noted

sailor,

first

John Paul Jones, who gave to 158

Religion

— Discipline — Morale

the United States

Navy

heroism and victory. is

its first

159

traditions of

When in later years

on a gunboat or destroyer that

for its very existence in

is

he

fighting

a yelling tempest,

battered by the swinging smoking seas, the

midshipman may

feel his

heavy heart cheered

as there comes

to

mind the beautiful

his

window of the chapel which depicts Redeemer walking upon the waters, the

altar his

controller of the winds

and seas today even

as then.

The

regular "Official Divine Service"

is

held in the chapel every Sunday morning at

10.40.

All

midshipmen are required to

attend except that those

who

are

Roman

Catholics, together with a few of other de-

nominations who have obtained the necessary permission, are allowed to attend the service of their choice in the city of Annapolis.

march to and from

their quarters to services

in military formation.

service

the

is

Navy

All

In the chapel the

non-sectarian in character though

Regulations permit

all

chaplains

to conduct their service according to

the

Academy

i6o Life at U. S. Naval

form used by

own

their

Being himself a sea-going lain

religious officer,

bodies.

the Chap-

able during his addresses to impart the

is

viewpoint of the sea, and to give proper advice to the midshipmen on

all

points which

tend to build up and strengthen character, the strong foundation of success on the sea as well as on the land.

sermon

is

delivered

Occasionally the

by some distinguished

visitor.

The service

is

hearty and inspiring, conduc-

ing to the love of one's country and

un-

is

doubtedly of vast benefit to the midshipmen.

As

is

the case anywhere, midshipmen do not

always concentrate their attention on the

marks but

at intervals let their thoughts

re-

and

eyes wander to the gallery where sits the young

lady

whom

they escorted to the hop last even-

ing and with stroll in

whom,

after chapel, they are to

the grounds and inspect the glories

of Bancroft Hall nevertheless, in spite of such ;

distractions, result.

this

in

a net gain in character must

The Chaplain his

finds

many

daily ministrations,

proofs of

and there

THE NAVAL ACADEMY CHAPEL

Religion

—

Discipline

many midshipmen who, though

are

not af-

Academy

as regu-

some denomination.

There

four years eadier, leave the

members

lar

i6i

with any church, when they entered

filiated

is

— Morale

of

every Sunday morning a voluntary "Early

Service," to which all

who

are communicants

any Christian body are

of

Nor

invited.

is

there a poor attendance at these services.

Midshipmen

who with

living in the city,

A

advanced study

and

is

mess,

is

or

com-

by the midshipmen. immediately after

Academy Y. M.

C.

A.,

a local body, holds meetings in

is

Hall.

midshipmen this

class for

conducted by the Chap-

evenings,

the Naval

Memorial

by

their guests

mid-week Bible

well attended

On Sunday which

Academy

an important part of the Chaplain's

congregations.

lain

for the children of

stationed at the

officers

prise

Sunday School held

morning service

after the

the

assist at

A

useful

handbook

called Reef Points

organization,

is

for

published

which also provides

the reading matter found in Memorial Hall.

The speaker is generally a visiting clergyman,

i62 Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

or Christian worker, perhaps a Congressman

Army

or a physician, or a leader in life,

ance

always

is

tary.

and

is,

Though under the

Navy

The attend-

invited for the evening. large,

or

of course, volun-

supervision of the

Chaplain, the midshipmen conduct the meeting themselves, choosing their

As

in all other assemblies of the

the time limit o'clock,

is

must be

speaker.

Academy,

sharply drawn, for at eight

by which hour the meeting has

lasted not over forty minutes,

in

own

in their

preparation

all

midshipmen

rooms to "bone" for

the

until 9.30

recitations

of

the

morrow.

The

daily prayers, said after breakfast in

the mess hall by the Chaplain while the

midshipmen stand at parade

rest,

and the one

attendance at church on Sundays are the only compulsory features of the midshipman's religious

that he

member

life.

is

These help him to

realize

not merely an individual but

of

tions, as is

an organization even

is

a

in his devo-

evidenced by the prayer for his

brothers in the

fleet,

by the one

for his fellow

Religion

members

—Discipline— Morale

in the

hears every

Academy, both

163

which he

of

Sunday morning, and by the hymn

which closes every divine service commending to the care

and protection

of

Father,

"Those

on the sea."

On

all

in peril

the Eternal

a Simday evening just prior to gradua-

tion a

bound

copy of the Students' Oxford Bible, in flexible leather of durable

venient size for use aboard ship, to

each

member

of

the

is

and con-

presented

graduating class

assembled in Recreation Hall by the American Seaman's Friend Society, a

fitting

address

being deHvered at the same time by secretary, the Rev. Dr.

its

George F. Webster,

or by some other appropriate person chosen

by the

Society.

The morning and evening

salute to the

colours, together with the patriotic

and addresses heard often

in

serve to quicken the

spirit of

devotion to country.

The

sermons

the Chapel, loyalty

flag is

made

and the

subject of frequent remarks that tend to

implant

its

meaning firmly

the midshipman.

in the heart of

The purpose

of the

Navy

— i64 Life at U. S.

Naval Academy-

made each Sunday that it may be a safeguard to all those who use the sea upon their lawful occasions. The primary reason for the Navy and for the necessity of keeping that arm of national is

indicated in that prayer

defence in a continual state of readiness, well

and

admiral

similarly brought out

who

"Heaven

is

by a famous

says:

gives the crown of victory to

those only who,

by habitual preparation win

without fighting, and at the same time forth-

with deprives of that crown those who, content with one success, give themselves up to

the ease of peace."

On

the

Sunday

ceremonies

is

Togo.

just prior to the graduation

delivered the final address to

the graduating class, the last religious service the midshipman hears in the Chapel, and at the close of the service the

we meet again"

hymn "God

be with you

till

great effect

by a quartette from the organ

is

sung with

balcony. Religion in the daily is

life ot

the midshipman

thus a useful and essential

part of the

Photo by

MASON MEMORIAL WINDOW.

PORTER MEMORIAL WINDOW

THE INTERIOR OF THE CHAPEL

McAboy

Religion

— Discipline — Morale

165

education at Annapolis, never being unduly

upon him but being made an ever-

thrust

present, strong influence in the moulding of his character.

The

Naval Academy well

discipline of the

illustrates the principle that in

munity

discipline

living.

It is

because

cannot right

every com-

means simply organized

the condition of living right

without

right

living,

who

Persons

exist.

must be compelled

to

do

civilization

will

not Hve

so,

and upon

such misguided individuals there must be

To

placed restraints.

pline ever harsh or a

Surely this

is

just

these alone

feel

and hard-mailed

disci-

form of punishment.

as

world would be better

were made to

is

it if

The

should be.

such individuals

the tyrannical, unyielding, fist in

order to drive

them

from an organization to which they have no right to belong.

That there are unfortu-

nately some such curious personalities

every large organization that must be admitted.

is

in

however, a truth,

1

66 Life at U. S. Naval This discipline

undue

not harsh or hard nor are

is

any kind placed on the

restrictions of

midshipmen.

Academy

Discipline

only

consists

in

the regulating of the conduct and the daily routine of the Hfe of the

regiment,

to

physically,

may be attained, and

that

both

in their opportunities

play.

all

and morally

may

for

of the

maximum

end that the

the

mentally,

results

members

share alike

work and

for

Regulations and orders, therefore, take

the form more of guides to procedure than

the assignment of punishment for the infraction of proper conduct or misdemeanours.

The routine and the organization of the regiment are the residt of many years of gradual development,

with

constant

improvement

under the guidance of the various able sea-

men who compose Board from time

the faculty or Academic

to time.

The view taken

by them has been always that the duct

is

final pro-

the object to be striven for, and that

the development of a thorough seaman will

be an addition, an

who

asset, to the efficiency

of the battleship, light cruiser, destroyer, or

Religion

—Discipline — Morale

submarine of whose personnel he

form a part,

is

M.

Nulton, U.

tritely expresses the

of

Midshipmen,

Navy, thus

S.

end sought by the

and training: "The objective

cipline

the doctrine

fleet,

problem

soon

will

their ultimate goal.

The present Commandant Captain L.

167

is

responsibility,

is

dis-

the

and the

the formation of military char-

is

acter."

As

before stated there are no unnecessary there

regulations,

reason for

all,

is

a good and sufficient

and furthermore there

endeavour made to hide regiment

this reason.

contrary

the

secret,

there be one, as to the

if

wherefores of

all

rules

is

taken

is

no

On

the

into

the

whys and

made and

enforced.

Such explanation of the organization and discipline of the

a whole

Naval Academy

in the lectures given

made as to the new fourth is

classmen one night a week during the summer.

The

officers

administering the affairs of the

Naval Academy, having had the same ing

that

is

being given

the

train-

midshipmen,

together with the broadening experience of

1 68

Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

their lives

on the high seas and

men, are

in

in

command of

thorough sympathy with the

midshipmen, and enjoy the opportunity for training

and character building afforded them

by a tour of duty at the Academy. The bond imiting the service was well expressed by one present Head of Department when he said: " I love the midshipmen, and some day I look forward to becoming their commandant." Midshipmen are thus trained and educated by men in thorough sympathy with their point of view, men who realize the difficulties and discouragements to which they are subjected.

The standard of honour maintained at the Naval Academy is the highest possible. It is

assumed that a midshipman instinctively

tells

the truth and that any statement, writ-

ten or oral,

made by him

but the facts expressed

in

contains nothing

language capable

of but one interpretation.

The main

function of demerits

record, in order that

is

that of

midshipmen may be

J

z

a

5

Religion

— Discipline—Morale

classed in their ability to

obey as well as

Many

their proficiency in studies.

has been

some

lost

by

has not learnt to obey,

which

by

of

is

command,"

this truth

in

a battle

this inability, inherent in

"The man who

personalities, to obey.

essential

169

wanting is

the

in the first

manner

in

has been so well expressed

the late Rear Admiral Sir Christopher

Cradock.

The

brightest

young man with-

out the power and inclination to obey orders in their entirety will develop into

who

is

ship

and

example

he

is

—as smoking,

—are an indication that the mid-

shipman guilty

by the

oflScer

his country.

Needless infractions of rules, for

an

not only useless, but a menace to his

of

them is not

just rules of

willing to abide

an organization of which

a part, and, therefore, that he should

Academy in many boys who

make room

leave the

order to

the

are equally competent

for

mentally, and in addition are willing to recognize that the regulations have been established

and approved by successive groups of

men who have gone through this same training

170 Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

and have added to

it

their years of experience

on the high

and

seas,

that, therefore, these

rules should be cheerfully, loyally, and strictly

obeyed.

That

fact that

is

recognized

must be obeyed

is

A

firm to

a

by the business world

Navy, as a recent example

as well as the illustrate.

rules

whom

will

a midshipman,

bilged for repeated infractions of the smoking

had applied

regulations,

for

employment

stated that, although smoking was not necessarily against

any

of their rules, yet the fact

that he, while a midshipman, had not chosen to

obey the rules of the organization of which

he then formed a part, that of midshipmen, in their eyes,

was

is

the regiment

sufficient to

condemn him

and so they had concluded he

was not the type

of

man

they desired in their

organization.

Responsibility

is

a word that covers

and means much to the very

Academy.

To

the

service,

of the

life

responsibility

coupled with loyalty and obedience to

the

efficient

Navy and

the

upkeep of

sential

much

existence its

is

of

es-

our

traditions.

Religion

—Discipline —Morale

Is not the acquirement of self-discipline

171

one

of the greatest responsibilities that a naval officer

has?

To be

a leader of

men

such an

appreciation of the value of responsibility is

essential

and ought to be every graduate's

The

ambition.

Naval Acad-

discipline of the

emy, as indicated

in its rules or guides to

conduct, endeavours thus at the outset to inculcate self-discipline

by making the mid-

shipmen consider the humanities of spirit of

life,

the

the service, and appreciate that the

value of each to the service

is

going to be

the greater the more each realizes his responsi-

whatever position he

bility, in

in

what concerns the welfare and In

instilling

many

occupy,

service of

men.

his future

the sense of responsibility the

able sermons that are delivered

Sundays

in

all assist in

the fleet

is

on

the chapel contribute a large

Visiting chaplains

impulse.

is

may

and clergymen

the work, point out the fact that

the doctrine and that the

man who

must possess

responsi-

to be of value there

biHty, else he will never be a leader.

Respon-

172 Life at U. S. sibility

Naval Academy

does not come without hardships or

than his

restrictions; the leader is less free

men.

He

but

responsible for his

is

has not only certain work to do,

own and

that of

This sense of responsibility

others as well.

to others as well as to one's self cannot be

without

appreciated

organization of

the

experience,

and

the

Academy was planned

materially to aid the acquirement of such responsibility

There

is

an

and to teach

it

progressively.

unofficial organization of the

midshipmen that

and

assists the discipline

the maintenance of a high honour standard.

When

the "plebes" become "youngsters,"

the class holds an election for the class officers consisting of a president, a secretary, treasurer, together with

members

and a

of the

hop

committee, and a representative of the class

on the executive committee men's athletic association. tioned office

is

also held

of the midship-

The

last

by a fourth classman,

this being the only elective office for a

shipman

The

menmid-

of that class.

position of president of the class

is

THE CHAPEL THROUGH THE ARCADE

Religion one that

is

— Discipline — Morale

173

very important to the welfare

not only of the class but of the discipline of

Academy.

the

Many

infractions

against

honour are prevented through the influence of

this

midshipman and not infrequently

discipline

is

much aided.

Sometimes a

state-

ment in regard to an offence is submitted by the midshipman accused thereof, that, on the face of lie.

it,

Such

may

an

be true, yet

and

evasive

is

in reality a

dishonourable

statement cannot be detected by the authorities,

who

consider the midshipman's

as good as gold.

Often

it

word

happens that the

midshipman who has made such a statement is

detected therein by his class, and through

the class president a court of honour, or call it

what you

will, is held,

and the midshipman

dealt with severely for his insult to the morals

and honour

of the regiment.

have followed as the ings.

Resignations

result of such proceed-

The midshipman

is

jealous

of

the

honourable character of his calling and strives his best to maintain the standard set before

him by the

officers of the

Navy.

174 Life at U. S. Naval

The

Navy

Government

"Articles for the of the

more usually cles of

Academy

United States"

of the

—or as they are

called in the service, the "Arti-

War" — must

be read by each mid-

shipman each month and report must be

made by

the midshipman to the officer in

charge of his battalion that this requirement

has been complied with. These Articles, state that:

"The commanders

of all fleets, squad-

and

vessels belonging to

rons, naval stations,

the

Navy

are required to

a good example of

and subordination." low only the

show

in themselves

virtue, honour, patriotism, If

the midshipman

spirit of this precept,

go far wrong in

his career.

fol-

he cannot

—

'

CHAPTER IX PHYSICAL TRAINING AND MEDICAL CARE

"A

sound mind in a sound body

prayed for.

The whole fare of the

a thing

to

be

direction of the physical wel-

midshipman

is

entrusted to the

whose duties comprise the

athletic officer,

physical

is

Juvenal.

'

training

the

of

entire

regiment

through gymnastic work, athletic exercises,

and competitions between other institutions in

The tendency

all

classes

and with

branches of sport.

to develop the popularity of

sports within the institution at the expense of

decreasing outside competitions

marked. this

In

tendency

common is

is

very

with other schools,

increasing because interclass

competitions develop the many,

who have

the prior right for consideration, instead of 175

Academy

176 Life at U. S. Naval

the few, who, by reason of especial abiHty

and physique, are able to be members

Navy team The

of the

in various athletic contests.

physical training consists,

then,

of

the gymnastic work and of the athletic sports of all kinds.

In 19 12 a compulsory system

was applied

of gymnastic physical training

was made to stimulate a desire uniform development by spreading the.

and the for

effort

athletic material in

more branches

of sport,

thus interesting more midshipmen and so increasing

the net physical benefits.

dynamometer strength system

of

surgeon,

test

measurements

who

is

is

The

on the Kellogg

now

in use.

The

especially charged with the

physical development of the midshipman,

examines each midshipman once a year, in April.

In this test the strength of practically

every working muscle

A

is

measured separately.

standard of strength, in accordance with

the height of the individual, for

each muscle.

is

established

This standard increases

with each year of the course, thus insuring

a progressive development.

The midship-

White Studio

PHYSICAL DRILL.

SV/EDISH SYSTEM.

STRETCH. STRIDE. POSITION

SWIMMING INSTRUCTION RE.\DY TO DIVE

While Studio

Physical Training

men are then

—Medical Care

classified as strong or

177

weak, and

physical cards are furnished each showing his strong or

weak points and

indicating the

exercises prescribed to bring the

up to the required standard.

who have

five or

more strength

are required to take

half hours

gymnasium per gymnastic

in addition to the routine

For the compulsory or weak squad

drills.

drills

deficiencies

two and one

of compulsory drill in the

week

weak muscles Midshipmen

the midshipmen are arranged in groups

according to their weakness or physical deficiencies

and are given

suitable

with the ultimate hope that they ally attain the

exercises

will

gradu-

normal physical development

of all muscles.

General gymnastic

drills

are

continued

throughout the entire four years, the

last

year being devoted to the object of training the graduating

class

to

be instructors of

men on shipboard. There can be no doubt that men normally developed to a

enlisted

reasonable standard at the time of their

graduation from the Naval

Academy

are

178 Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

especially well fitted for the

Navy from a

purely physical point of view.

The primary

object of

all

physical exercise at the

Academy may be

said to be the development

of the physique in a symmetrical

and

Naval

manner

to such an extent as to conduce to the

present

and

future

physical

and mental

well-being of the individual under the vary-

ing vicissitudes of the naval service, and to this

end

all

exercise

is

made

pleasurable,

adapted to the physiological age, equable,

and

fairly continuous.

In gymnastic work the Swedish system of physical training, modeled

the British

somewhat upon

Navy Manual,

standard since 19 12, and

has been the

its results,

as

com-

pared with those obtained by the previous systems or lack of systems in vogue, have justified its

continuance as a most important

part of the curriculum, as obligatory as

navigation and

all

other studies.

is

It should

be noted that the adoption of the compulsory gymnastic training was forced as one of the natural consequences of the abandonment of

Physical Training the

summer

vessels.

— Medical Care

practice

cruise

upon

179

sailing

These cruises with their manning

the braces, halliards, sheets, clewHnes and reef tackles,

reefing

their running aloft furHng or

developed

sail

young

the

officer's

permanent physical well-being in a

manner

that no substituted activity can

achieve.

There

is

practically

no opportunity for

healthful physical exercise battleships

months

upon the

now used during

as the school of

modem

the

summer

training,

and, in

consequence, the strength of the individual generally shows deterioration clusion of the cruise. in the hot,

Much

upon the contime

is

spent

poorly ventilated dynamo- and

engine-rooms and

so,

instead of the former

bronzed, hardy midshipman of the sailing ship period, one sees tired boys with pale faces

returning from the cruise.

A

careful system

of gymnastic training thus gradually

an

essential

became

part of the academic course.

The Swedish system

in

around physical health,

maintaining has

all-

proved well

adapted for the requirements of the Naval

:

i8o Life at U. S. Naval

Academy, and so a

Academy

brief description of

some

of its features will be given.

The

benefit of this system,

combined with

the regular life and the good food,

is

indicated

by the records. The average gain in weight for the first six months of attendance at the Acad-

emy

nearly ten pounds per man, so that a

is

class of

two hundred men takes on about

a ton of

flesh.

The added weight does not

consist of fat, but of muscle, bone,

The

exercises for each

and sinew.

day are so arranged

that they affect the body in a progressive

way,

the

classes

of

movements

each other in the same way.

following

A

typical

schedule for a day follows 1.

A

work-out for the entire body

light

in order to get the blood circulating

loosen

up the muscles and

cises consist of ings, facings, 2.

of

Leg

joints.

formation of the

and to

The

exer-

class, dress-

and openings.

exercises stimulate the circulation

the lower extremities and by bringing

blood to these parts exert a calming effect

on the respiratory and heart

action.

^

T.*

US'* 1 \

::^i

:ixi-;

<

O

Physical Training Span bending

3.

— Medical Care

i8i

exercises develop

the

upper back muscles and stretch the chest muscles

and

so

counteract

cramping

the

brought about by bad posture, or excessive

work on ordinary gymnasium apparatus. These keep the chest supple and favour lung expansion.

Heaving

4.

of a

exercises aid in the production

good carriage.

5.

Balance

affect the

exercises

are

nervous system and

co-ordination.

Attention

is

designed its

to

relation to

required until

the antagonistic muscles are trained to

work

together. 6.

Dorsal exercises affect the muscles of

the spine and thus

make

for the erectness

and

the extension of the body. 7.

Abdominal muscles are strengthened

and the hollow back

(a prevalent condition)

prevented by the next exercises on the day's schedule, which also aid the digestive organs. 8.

Lateral exercises follow in order to

improve both sides

make

alike, separate

the ribs,

the chest more supple and resiHent,

1

82 Life at

benefit the

U. S. Naval

Academy

abdominal organs 'and give sup-

pleness to the carriage of the body. 9.

Jumping and vaulting

exercises require

control, develop judgment, presence of mind,

quickness of movement, resource, courage,

and the

ability to turn a quickly

into action.

One

acquires the habit of using

just sufficient muscular action

The nervous system form in

formed idea

is

and no more.

exhilarated.

which the acts are done

is

The

the essential

thing and not the length or height of the

jumps and 10.

vaults.

Breathing exercises, used next, employ

the muscles of the respiration and result in

mobility of the chest. 11.

Marching and running

the body a free and easy to improve its carriage.

running

is

12.

movement and tend The progression in

gradual, the duration never ex-

ceeding five minutes.

approved

exercises give

A

slow dog-trot

is

the

gait.

The day^s order

light exercises, the

is

completed with

movements preponderat-

ing being the slow leg

and the breathing

Physical Training

—Medical Care

183

These not only calm down the

exercises.

nervous and blood-circulating systems but act as correctors of posture.

Progression

is

kept up by performing

all

and the most violent

exercises but four times,

The changes from easy to hard made after good form has

only once.

exercises are only

been attained.

A

made of the method "words of command," in order

great point

using the

properly

fix

is

of

to

attention and set up nervous

impulses to the muscles concerned which are a direct response to an effort of the effect of

An

will.

mental concentration on a muscular

movement

is

illustrated

by noting

that, the

muscle group directly concerned in throwing the leg forward in running or walking

is

the

only group that strength tests of midshipmen

have proven to be stronger on the

on the

right side, this

left

than

undoubtedly because

of the necessity of stepping forward with the left foot first in all

"Form"

is

military formations.

insisted

upon

in order to obtain

the highest degree of benefit from the exer-

Academy

184 Life at U. S. Naval

An

cises.

apparently easy exercise in bad

form becomes a form

is

one when the proper

difficult

maintained.

Printed

instructions

as to the proper time for any kind of exercise

man

and bathing are furnished each midshipfor his guidance, so that

wrong through ignorance

of

he cannot go

what

is

right in

the matter of acquiring and maintaining a

good physical body.

That an

officer

should be thus sound

is

recognized as a principle and, in the later

amount of each calendar month and a

years in the service, a certain

outdoor exercise

physical examination held at the beginning of each year are prescribed. [

Compulsory physical training was adopted,

as has been seen, because of the lack of the

former opportunities given by the practice cruise

by which the necessary strength was

acquired,

and has proved very

to the midshipmen,

that the system chosen

the 479 midshipmen

beneficial

the results indicating is

who

a good one.

Of

failed to qualify

in strength in an October test but thirty

:

Physical Training

— Medical Care

185

remained the following May, these with but

minor

This compulsory train-

deficiencies.

ing in the Swedish system begins upon en-

and

trance,

summer and a

The

for

continued during the entire

is

from one and a quarter to one

half hours

on four days of the week.

influence of these exercises

fourth classmen

is

upon the

very marked.

They

are

enabled to assume the correct carriage of the

body, the chest being developed very materially,

the joints loosened, contracted muscles

and the spine adjusted.

stretched,

It is

a

problem how to counteract the bad positions

and forms assumed by midshipmen during the study and recitation hours. The Hmited

amount

of physical drill

accompHsh

this,

is

not sufficient to

and so the gymnasium must

provide the substitute by

its

adoption of the

As used

best systems known.

in the

gym-

nasium the Swedish system appears to have accomplished

much

in

developing the

fol-

lowing desirable qualities in the midshipmen

muscle control, ness of

self-reliance, courage,

perception,

alert-

quickness in response

1

Academy

86 Life at U. S. Naval

both mental and muscular, erectness of body,

symmetry and endurance; besides which it has given them generally improved health

The undergraduate does not always take the view just given of the gymnaand physique. sium

drills,

the Lucky

when

judging by remarks printed in

Bag

to the effect that

First Class

gym

they became work

—now

The swimming pool ninety feet by sixty fresh water that

is

sanitary condition at is

filtered

first

drills

is

Time was

*

:

'

were fun

—then

they are torture."

a large, inviting one,

feet,

with clear

filled

kept in an absolutely all

The water

times.

through sand and gravel after

having been treated with alum and soda

and a solution

many

In this

of chlorinated lime.

pool are held the colleges.

swimming

Before

midshipman must be a

contests with

graduation qualified

every

swimmer:

he must be able to swim 150 yards in seven minutes,

know

ably, pick

three strokes well, dive credit-

up objects

at depths of eight feet,

and be a capable

life

saver.

each year there are

still

members

In

May

of

of the first

I

Physical Training class struggling

in

— Medical Care

187

hard to pass this examination

swimming, which

is

by no means a

per-

functory one.

The

floor of the

gymnasium contains

six

handball courts, which are always occupied during recreation hours, the sport developing agiHty and accuracy in a very marked degree.

The need

for

more infantry drill

to straight-

en the carriage has been indicated, but no time

beyond that now

The marching from

allotted can be thus spent.

in military formation to

recitations, to drills,

assists in forcing

riage.

and

and to meals,

all

an erect and military car-

The layout

of the grounds

is

such

that during the day the midshipmen are

enabled to get a Httle rest from the section

rooms and

their study

room

in the

marching

from Bancroft Hall to the Academic Building, the

Steam Building, or the Armory, and

Seamanship Buildings. ing spells during the

These

little

breath-

day contribute materially

to the physical welfare of the regiment,

and

the midshipmen naturally enjoy them even

during inclement weather.

Naval Academy

i88 Life at U. S.

Now

that the methods taken to insure

sound strong bodies have been considered, attention

may

be directed to the care taken

to prevent illness

to

and the means adopted

make the sick recover their health. The bugle sounds the mournful sick

daily,

immediately after breakfast, at which

time a medical

Academy a few

offices

officer

of the staff of the

be found in Sick Quarters, as

will

and rooms on the fourth

floor

Any

mid-

of Bancroft Hall are designated.

shipman who

is ill

will incapacitate is

or has an injury such as

him from duty

of

any kind,

examined, treated, or returned to duty as

the result of this examination

Unless a midshipman or

call

drill, it is

is

may

warrant.

really unfit for

seldom that he

is

study

able to "pull

the Hst" and be excused therefrom, no matter if

he

some

is

unprepared for recitation through

misadventure

or

lack

Attendance at recitations and pulsory unless

The cUmate

ill

of

foresight.

drills is

com-

health or injury prevent.

of Annapolis during all

months,

excepting those of December, January, Febru-

Physical Training ary and March,

and general

— Medical Care

189

conducive to good health

is

well being.

The

four

months

viewed from the standpoint

mentioned

are,

of health,

hard months, and the sick and

hospital

lists

then contain the names of

The openness

midshipmen.

and

its

of

many

the winter

frequent short periods of cold imme-

diately followed

pneumonia,

by heat cause grippe and

which

are

unfortunately

too

prevalent.

Cases of sickness for a week or more are

always sent to the

modem and

Naval Hospital, located Creek on a high

known

bluff,

well-equipped

just across

Dorsey

on the ridge that was

as Strawberry Hill, overlooking the

Severn and the harbour. location,

and

if

there be a

It is

a wonderful

power

in the seeing

of beautiful nature to heal

strength,

and restore to

then this hospital possesses that

factor in the treatment of the sick in perfection.

Minor

injuries are frequent in drills

The "plebes" mer always have much athletics.

in their first

and sum-

trouble with their

Naval Academy

190 Life at U. S.

due partly to new shoes and partly to

feet,

new

the

daily

the midshipman's

strenuosity of

bruises

and

though

of

occasionall}^

late years

rules of the

many hard

produces

Football

life.

a

under

game such

broken the

bone,

modified

serious injuries are

infrequent.

The morning sick call is supplemented by one in the afternoon at five, that is, imme-

Any

diately after the drills of the day.

den is

ilhiess

that

may

occur at other times

always attended to immediately,

being

surgeon

a

constant

in

Many midshipmen

there

attendance.

attend such sick

and the record for the year ending 31, 1915,

sud-

calls

December

shows:

Admission and readmission Total number of sick days Daily average of patients

1433 2840 7.8

Percentage of sick

1.6

Transferred to hospital

271

Medical Director, A. M. D. McCormick, the medical officer in charge of the health of

the

midshipmen

at

the

Academy, has

>•!-

BPJ

:

Physical Training

— Medical Care

191

kindly written for this chapter some interesting facts.

He

says

"In order that the material of the personnel of naval officers

may compare

favour-

ably with material of the ships on which

they

sail,

start in

great care selecting

must be exercised at the

young men who are to

receive commissions.

Therefore, the physi-

examination of candidates for midship-

cal

men

very

is

rigid,

corresponding to the very

thorough inspection of purposes, and this

is

for

steel

not

all,

building

for each year

Academy a midshipman is subjected to another test to ascertain how he is standing at the

the strain.

So there are

five physical

nations before a midshipman

be

fit

is

exami-

declared to

for the trials of the naval service, to

the end that in the

be iron

men on

Navy

of

today there

may

iron ships, not, as has been

men on wooden ships nor wooden men on iron ships. From the time

said of old, iron

of a

midshipman's appointment the medical

officers

of the

his health,

Navy have

supervision over

and the greatest care

is

taken that

192 Life at U. S.

he

may

Naval Academy

be a valuable asset to the Govern-

ment, which expends so

much on

this unit

As soon as practicable entering the Naval Academy, he is

preparedness.

of

after

vaccinated against smallpox and inoculated against typhoid fever, thus the danger of

two

diseases

"The

is

eliminated.

a midshipman breathes,

air

water he drinks, the food he

eats,

many

light

he studies by, and

tions

which concern the health

shipmen,

The

are

site of

orientation

under

breezes

of

and the

other condiof the

mid-

supervision.

Bancroft Hall was chosen for

and

thus having the

sunshine,

from

its

facility for cross-ventilation,

facing eastward,

amount

medical

the

greatest

and the prevailing

Chesapeake

Bay,

and

also

having sufBcient elevation for drainage and a proper sewerage system."

The most important article of food is milk and thanks to Pay Inspector Samuel Bryan no

institution in the world has better milk.

While serving as commissary of the Academy this officer

made up

his

mind that the milk

Physical Training

— Medical Care

193

was, in every way, of an inferior quality, that it

was supplied by unsanitary

that this

one

article of food

dairies,

After

for practically all intestinal troubles.

much

difficulty,

in

1910,

he succeeded,

obtaining

and

was responsible August,

in

authorization

to

use

twenty-five thousand dollars from the mid-

shipmen's store account to estabHsh a dairy.

The land used was part

of the

government

farm, and in December, 19 12, he had pro-

ceeded so efficiently that there were two barns, three two-hundred-ton

and a herd

silos,

And

hundred and twenty cows.

of

one

the former

sicknesses from gastro-enteritis, tuberculosis,

typhoid fever, and septic caused great havoc

tonsilitis,

among

which had

the midshipmen,

were absolutely eliminated.

At the begin-

ning of the academic year, 1912-1913, the dairy

first

began to supply

the midshipmen.

requirements

is

all

the needs of

Milk that meets sold to the

certified

midshipmen

for

forty cents per gallon, a very considerable

reduction from the sixty cents charged in

neighbouring 13

cities.

The dairy

is

inspected

194 Life at U. S.

by the Bureau

regularly of the

usually

Department rated

September, less

Naval Academy of

Animal Industry

of Agriculture,

above 97.63,

19 14.

The

its

bacteria

and

is

rating

of

count

is

than 3000 per c.c, instead of the 10,000

per c.c, considered allowable for certified milk. is

In

New York

coming

insufficient,

City 100,000 per

c.c.

A milk.

the limit for Class

it

The land bewas deemed neces-

sary to seek another location.

Congress, in

March, 1913, appropriated $100,000 for a dairy; and for $56,725 there were purchased at Gambrills, ten miles north-west of napolis, 771 acres to

removed.

An-

which the dairy was

Its capacity is

250 gallons

Doctor McCormick says:

"The

daily.

results

obtained through the dairy have been widely published by the Bureau of Animal Industry as a practical demonstration of

accomplished along these

lines.

what can be

About four

hundred requests have been received

for

information concerning equipment and meth-

ods of the dairy and, through the report of the British Attache, the dairy has been re-

Physical Training

—Medical Care

produced at military stations

195

Not

in India.

only have gastro-intestinal maladies been so

much

reduced, but tuberculosis and typhoid

fever from impure milk have been eliminated.

"The stuffs.

The

greatest care

All the

flour

is

food-

be

Raw

eliminated.

lettuce,

dough by

into

electric

no sweat of the brow to

is

and

all

meat is Government inspected.

made

mixers, so there

celery

taken with

is

vegetables,

are thoroughly

such

as

washed

before using."

The farm on Greenbury in

1910,

most

Point, purchased

comprising 180 acres, contributes

of the food supply for the dairy herd,

and some vegetables, such as potatoes, to

A

the midshipmen's mess.

herd of hogs

is

being raised there according to most ap-

proved methods, the waste from the mess supplying their food. lutely safe pork

This insures abso-

and ham to the midshipmen.

In addition, chickens are

mented

now

with, both for food

and

being experifor eggs.

Doctor McCormick continues:

"The water

is

obtained from two artesian

;

196 Life at U. S.

Naval Academy hundred

wells at a depth of six

pumped of iron

into settling tanks to rid

and

filtered twice before

The

for drinking purposes.

made from

It is

feet.

of salts

it

being used required

ice

this twice filtered water.

is

Bub-

bling faucets are installed in Bancroft Hall

and the common drinking cup has been abolished. ' '

Three boards composed of medical officers

and a

civil

engineer have examined and

recommendations

in regard to the lighting

The recommenda-

system of Bancroft Hall. tions were carried out at

requiring

a special

purpose.

This

an expense of $12,000,

appropriation

included

the walls,

lights, tinting

made

kinds

special

etc.,

the

for

the of

main object

being to obtain three-foot candle-power light

on the study

table,

which

is

considered the

proper light for studying purposes.

"Eyes and

ears are the organs that suffer

most at the Academy, the former because there

is

much

close application in studying

and drawing by

electric light,

which

light as far as hygiene of the eyes

is

is

a bad

concerned

Physical Training

— Medical Care

197

the latter on account of climatic conditions, causing catarrhal inflammation of the air passages involving the middle ear.

In order

may not fail and be many cases are referred

that vision and hearing causes of rejection,

Navy

to

The wearing

specialists.

ear

of

protectors while firing on the target range is

compulsory.

"Many the

minor

general

details in the interests of

health

carried

are

For

out.

instance, in the barber shop hair brushes are

abolished,

solution of carbolic acid.

by the midshipmen recommendations endeavour fitted.

weak The shoes worn

and combs are kept

is

The

of

made

in a

are the result of the

two boards, and to

an

have them properly

wrestling mats, which are com-

mon sources of infection,

are regularly

with antiseptics and exposed to

washed

light.

"All teeth are required to be permanently filled

on entrance, and,

in

addition,

two

dental surgeons are continually working to

A

keep

them sound.

made

of everyone's teeth, on which

complete

chart is

is

re-

Naval Academy

198 Life at U. S.

corded the condition when entering and the

work done subsequently. "Being on the lookout

for

and excluding

contagious diseases are about the most im-

portant duties of the medical

Academy.

Although

scariet

theria, measles, chicken-pox,

been prevalent

officer at

fever,

the

diph-

and mumps have

in the city during the past

year, only one case of a contagious disease

occurred fruitful

among

the

source of

by watchfulness. "So it is seen that is

for

midshipmen, so this

damage has been

offset

in all directions nothing

too small to be of importance in caring

and

fitting the

raw material to be the

finished product of a naval officer."

CHAPTER X ATHLETICS

"At

all

times

—blow

the

For a long Academy

the

—play,

high, blow low

game."

— Cradock.

play

period after the founding of athletics

did not exist.

Vice Admiral David D. Porter

is

due the

credit of the establishing of athletics

firm and lasting basis.

To on a

In 1866, soon after

becoming superintendent, he actively encouraged

all

forms of

athletics,

result that serious athletic

in 1867.

with the

work was begun

Class baseball clubs were formed,

rowing was started, and a gymnasiiun was fitted

up

in the barbette of old Fort Severn.

This interest in athletics improved the

whole tone of the

institution,

tary forms of sports

and the volun-

answered

199

the

needs

200 Life at U. S. Naval fairly well until 1890,

slacking up,

Academy

when, Porter's doctrines

was again

it

comwork was

that

felt

pulsory and systematic athletic

necessary for the welfare of the midshipmen.

Not only

scholars but fighting officers were

needed for the Navy,

body were ready

men whose

for

use at their highest

In that year

efficiency in the critical hour.

Colonel Robert

nerves and

M. Thompson,

a

member

of

the class of 1868, aided most materially the officers

stationed at the

formation of the

Navy

Under the guidance

Academy

in

the

Athletic Association. of

this

organization

athletics took a fresh impetus,

have pros-

pered, and the enthusiasm for sports has since

been maintained.

The necessary funds athletics are provided

for the carrying

on of

by the Midshipmen's

and the Navy Athletic Association, subscriptions being called for each year from midshipmen at the Academy and from the world over. are

now

officers

All branches of athletics

carefully fostered under the strict

regulation of an

officer

of

the

Executive

201

Athletics

Department

with

charged

specially

this

duty; competitions between classes and with other schools are arranged so as to form a

continuous series of athletic contests that take place practically every Wednesday and

Saturday afternoon throughout the entire academic year.

The regulation of athletics is the result much careful thought and of statistics based upon what is best in view of the future of

life

of

a

standpoint

naval the

officer.

From

conditions

on board ship

force a comparatively inactive

life

than

and

there-

is less

liable

life,

fore the overdeveloped athlete

to withstand ship

a physical

is

the

man

of

average physique. Serious inquiry

is

going on with a view

by the abandonment atheltic contests and the

to ascertain whether of intercollegiate

greater encouragement of the interclass sports it

would not be possible to greatly increase

number having athletic training of one kind or another. The question is naturally asked how many midshipmen do come out the

Academy

202 Life at U. S. Naval for the

The

major sports and intercollegiate

resulting answer

is

astonishing as

tests.

it

lays

bare the fact that this present academic year, 1915-1916, there were 452 midshipmen in training for the teams that compete with

other institutions, the regiment numbering

A doubt,

918.

therefore, arises as to

whether

a decrease in such contests will bring out

more men than are already

maximum number is

the goal striven

interested.

The

out for healthful contests

for,

and changes in methods

must be gradual whenever any are decided

The fact that contests by Navy teams with outside colleges develop the Academy

upon.

spirit

else

and unite the midshipmen as nothing

can or

will is undeniable,

so that the

contests with outside teams are limited

money

considerations rather than

by

by ques-

tions of policy.

Football claims the

and

in the

first

enthusiasm

it

place in popularity

kindles contributing

most to the uniting of the midshipmen body.

The is

career of the

watched

men on

closely,

the

A and B

they being

squads

the

most

203

Athletics

marked men

Academy during

in the

months that the sport

is

practised,

the two

months

of

ideal weather, the best that the whole year

The

affords in Annapolis,

well as the

Navy team

mapped out

itself,

held in time,

have

of

work

their

The "plebe"

for the season.

team has a schedule schools.

class teams, as

games with high

The contest with West Point, New York City about Thanksgiving

furnishes

the

These games began

climax for this sport. in the year 1890,

and

for

four years they were played alternately at

Then

West Point and Annapolis.

after

an

interruption of five years the contests were

resumed

and took

in 1899,

exception of one

place, with the

game

at Princeton, either

New

York, the latter city

at Philadelphia or

being the present (19 16) scene of the annual

Army and Navy

football game.

The

entire

student body of both the Military and the

Naval Academies,

with

the

exception

of

those specially restricted because of reprehensible conduct, attends these games.

At

the opening of the season of 19 16 the score

Academy

204 Life at U. S. Naval in

games stands: Army ten

Navy's

one game having been a

nine,

The coaching officer

detailed

training

of

a college

assistant,

the gridiron

supervise

to

man

of

the

As an

midshipmen.

prominence on

always selected.

is

tie.

under the direction of the

is

specially

physical

victories to the

In addition,

a competent trainer to watch over the physical or is

muscular condition of the midshipmen

always present and contributes to the

successful development of the

midshipmen

by his vigilance and care, removing the sores and bruises as they appear. As candidates for the Navy team and the class teams a large number of midship-

men

are engaged with

this sport,

more

ment

which

is

largely than of

skill,

all

their

might in

considered to contribute

any other to the develop-

courage, initiative, and sound

judgment. " You ought

When When You

to see the

they're getting

Navy team up steam,

they've got the hall.

can't stop them at

all.**

205

Athletics

Those who make up the many songs and cheers

necessary

enthusiasm at

keep

to

its

the

highest

regiment's

pitch,

and thus

encourage the team, are as busy as those training

up.

and

fighting for a place in the line

Farragut Field, with

iron stand for

its

the spectators, built by subscriptions of the service,

the place where the games are

is

held during the season.

Baseball started at the

with the teams of the

Academy

classes,

in 1867

such teams as

the "Nautical" and "Severn" being in their

day quite famous. collegiate

games

March 25th

fill

Class games and inter-

the spring season from

to graduation,

week being not unusual.

three

games a

These are well

at-

tended by the regiment, which always hopes for a victory in the final

game with West Point

in spite of the eight successive victories of

the Army.

The diamond

is

worthy

of

com-

parison with that of any major league club

and

far

more picturesquely

located.

One

is

rewarded for going by just enjoying the prospect at

Worden

Field whether the

Navy

Academy

2o6 Life at U. S. Naval

The

wins or not.

officer

hkewise assisted by a professional

this sport is

player,

who

team

the two months

in

training

result of

is

Navy

does good work with the

at his disposal for the

and developing

this period

coach supervising

much

of players.

Part of

too cold for baseball, as a

which the season ending the

Saturday

in

May

with the game

last

against

West Point seems very short. Out

of the fifteen

games that have been

played by the academies of the

sister services

West Point has

including the

game

won

These games are staged

twelve.

nately at

of 191 6,

West Point and Annapolis,

alter-

so that

only every other year do the cadets and mid-

shipmen see the annual baseball contest.

Rowing

for a long time

was popular, but

because of the lack of suitable shells and

equipment, became nearly a dead sport until the '90's when, mainly through the efforts of

Naval Cadet Winston Churchill,

it

put on a secure basis that has rendered

was it

a

successful part of athletics.

Six shells are

now

open months.

in use practically all the

:3^

0'

207

Athletics

The year 1893 saw

the

The

Navy eight.

first

races are usually pulled over the two-mile

—although

course

for

several

19 13-

years,

the length of course permitted was

191 5,

but one and

sixteenths miles

five

—on

the

Severn above the county bridge, Pennsyl-

Harvard,

vania,

Syracuse

being

Cornell,

Analostan, and

regularly scheduled.

The

crew's outing consists of a trip to Philadel-

phia to row in the American Henley. in

19

16,

Child's

Navy

the

Cup

took second place in the

Race, Princeton being

only one third of a length. petitors were

in the

by

The other com-

of

the

Academy

Henley regatta,

second crews of

The

first

Columbia and Pennsylvania.

The second crew rowed

There,

all

in

(1916)

which the

colleges compete.

basketball games, held in the armory

during the season extending from the close of football to nearly the opening of the baseball

series,

always

claim

exciting

The armory

much and

attention and are

interesting

contests.

contains four basketball courts,

as a result of

which

facihties the training of

2o8 Life at U. S. Naval the

Navy and

Academy

the class teams goes on with

As a general

no interruptions.

practically

among

rule the rating

the colleges, of the

Navy basketball team is very high, always being quite successful. lost

the season

The Navy

but two games this year and even beat

Pennsylvania, which

won

the intercollegiate

championship of the East.

The gymnasium and

wrestling meets, held

during the winter season, reveal the presence of

many

fine

tumblers and wrestlers

the midshipmen.

among

In the past four years

they have lost but one gymnasium meet to their opponents,

from such

which have comprised teams

colleges as

Pennsylvania, Pitts-

Yale, Penn State, and The gymnasium team never lacks

burgh,

Princeton. candidates,

the sport being intensely interesting to the participants

sport as a

and being surpassed by no other

means

The most popular

of physical development. of all the indoor sports

seems to be the wrestling

and the Navy has had best wrestlins:

team

in

gym meets, many years the

in these

for

the

East.

As the

209

Athletics

Lucky Bag expresses sport:

—the

it

referring to this

in

—

"One scene predominates the gym mat and a Navy man standing

—

amidst the deHrious cheers of the multitude,

—

arm upheld by the referee Navy wins!" The results of the various fencing meets with different universities and Fencers Clubs

prove that the use of the not yet a forgotten

art,

foil

and sabre

and each year

is

sees

among the graduates. The "Little Iron Man," as the intercollegiate championship emblem is known, is still the property of the Navy fencers. experts with both weapons

It

was secured April

22, 1916, at the

New

York, on which occasion the

the

team

foils,

first

on

intercollegiate

meet

in

Navy won

championship

in

the individual prize in sabres, and the place for novice fencers.

this as well as

exclusive

right

Membership

on other teams,

of

upper

is

not the

The

classmen.

"plebes" are always welcome in athletics,

and on

who

this fencing

team was one "plebe"

distinguished himself although he

had but one short academic year 14

in

had

which

Academy

210 Life at U. S. Naval

to perfect himself in a sport in which but little

experience

usual prior to entering

is

the Academy.

Another indoor team that claims much popularity

is

swimming team, which

the

also competes with

many

The

of the country.

teams

of the college

dashes, plunges,

and

diving held in the clear pool are always close

and create much enthusiasm and

contests, interest.

The

and exciting game

fast

of lacrosse

is

the most recent of the athletic sports adopted, for

it

was not

until 1907 that this Indian

running game was introduced at Annapolis.

Both the played

lacrosse

and the baseball games are

in the spring season,

spectators

Worden

ball

opposite side of the

Field

and lacrosse claims as

some ardent baseball

away from the all

on

simultaneously

game field.

fans,

coaxed

in progress at the

Until 1915,

when

forms of outside competition in athletics

were dropped by that

college,

the victory

over Carlisle, the Indian college and the of the game,

home

was the one most eagerly sought.

I

211

Athletics

Now

game

the hardest

lacrosse

in

the

is

annual one with Johns Hopkins University.

Track and

field

Medals are awarded by the

ragut Field.

Navy or

meets take place on Far-

Athletic Association for the breaking

equalling

track and

of

field

In the

previous records.

events as in

others the

all

watchfulness of the medical authorities over the health and well-being of the future officers is

manifested by the limitation of one mile

now

placed upon running races.

the half-mile, mile, abolished,

In 19 13,

and two mile runs were

but in 191 6, the half-mile and

mile run were restored.

The

made

records

both as regards winning meets and in estab-

most

lishing standards in events are able.

college

From five to six

The

teams take place each spring.

Naval Academy record is

credit-

meets with the various

in the lOO-yard

9.8 seconds, in the 440-yard

seconds, in the shot put in the rurming

it is

broad jump

dash

dash

it is

50

43 feet 7 inches, it is

22 feet

'j^A

inches.

Boxing and soccer football

exist as contests

212 Life at U. S. Naval between

classes only,

Academy

no outside competitions

being permitted.

The

team has every

tennis

facility

practice and renders a good account in its various meets with the

Midshipmen

other colleges.

on the courts from sunrise to

teams from

will

be found

sunset,

ever free from their duty calls such as recitations,

for

of itself

whendrills,

The exhibitimes by some of the

and study hours.

tion matches played at

tennis experts have increased the interest in

the sport on the part of the team as well as of those engaging in I

last trip to

it

for recreation only.

Academy

In 1 9 10 the

Camp

rifle

team made

its

Perry and since then, with

the exception of one contest in the spring of 191 6 on the District of Columbia all

rifle

range,

matches have been shot at the Academy

ranges located across the Severn on Little

and Big Carr's Creeks. sport

is

still

The charm

great enough to claim

midshipmen as

its followers,

sport requires the giving

of the

many

even though the

up

of almost all

spring liberties and precludes the possibility

!

213

Athletics of

witnessing any of the baseball games.

A

recent

match (May

13,

1916) with the

Regiment

of

the

Seventy-first

National

match

Guard was most

over,

scores

exciting.

The

The

were added with the

discovery that each team had points.

New York

shooting off the

at the 600-yard range, the

made 3256

tie

was done

midshipmen win-

ning this and the match, 543 to 542

The

bringing out of athletes

regiment

is

further

direction of the

by the

under the

stimulated

Navy

Athletic Association

contest that continues

the year for the

among the

Navy

throughout

Athletic Association

Cup, the company whose members win the

most points

in all types of athletic contests

during the year having thereon;

its

by the presentation

name engraved of a

sword for

by engraving upon the Thompson Trophy Cup; the name of the midshipman declared to have done general excellence in athletics;

the most for athletics during the year, and, in addition,

by giving individual medals

excellence in all forms of athletics.

for

214 Life at U. S. Naval

The normal to excel

is

Academy

incentive of a healthy

boy

thus increased by the material

gains in prizes and medals that will perpetuate

the

memory

of his skill

and

strength.

—

CHAPTER XI RECREATION "Don*t

get downhearted. golf.

"

The midshipman

Go

ashore

finds that in this aca-

demic routine of work there

is still left

time for pleasure, and this time

him after graduation upon the Academy days as to enable

pleasure and

and play

Cradock.

is

much

sufficient

to look back

occasions

happy memories.

The blue

Severn River with AnnapoHs harbour pleasant watercourse upon which to

many

available catboats

on the September sels,

of

sail

is

a

the

and knockabouts;

leave,

the

larger

ves-

the cutter Robert Center, and the yawl

Argo, accommodate parties of midshipmen for

a week's cruise on Chesapeake Bay. The knockabouts are popular with the midship215

2i6 Life at U. S. Naval

men and

are engaged for recreation hours as

ahead as

far

Academy

is

permitted.

Not

until a

shipman has passed an examination ming, and in handling boats under

he use these vessels other than

The

officers carefully

in

swim-

sail,

minimized.

Naturally

may

in drill periods.

examine

all

to the end

that accidents and lubberly exhibitions

be

mid-

the

may

authorities

wish that the seamanship displayed by the

midshipmen, when taking their friends out for a sail

on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and

Sundays, shall be a credit to the Academy.

Both getting away from and securing the moorings require

skill

because of narrow

waters and the gusty, variable winds.

At-

tempting a landing one young middy grabbed his

mooring buoy and refused to

let

though the boat's headway carried

and

left

him

it

go even

beyond

struggling in the water,

still

holding to the buoy, with the result that his

two guests had

to

shift

for

themselves.

Such occurrences damage the reputation the midshipmen as

One

of

sailors.

of the perquisites of the

Midshipman

Recreation

217

Commander is the neat little knockabout J. E. McDonald, which

emy late

is

reserved for his exclusive

This boat was presented to the Acad-

use.

by the

for this purpose

sister of

Naval Constructor McDonald, the Mid-

shipman Commander illustrated

roster

of

in

this

the river and harbour the office of the

A

signed

who

knockabout upon

kept exhibited in

is

Commandant of Midshipmen.

Excellence in sailing

Week

1892.

the midshipmen

have enjoyed the use of

rewarded in June

is

each year by the presentation to the

best boat sailors of prizes, given

R.

the

M. Thompson,

by Colonel

consisting of binoculars to

the best and a monocular to the second best.

Cross country walking

is

enjoyable as the

country about Annapolis has resque bits of road, and

many

many

pictu-

spots affording

views over the water or over the rolling

country

may

be reached

in

but a short time.

The midshipman wears a comfortable khaki suit

and leggings

for this sort of exercise.

Horseback riding few, the supply of

is

indulged in

good horse

by but

flesh

being

— 2i8 Life at U. S. Naval

somewhat of the

limited as

Academy

also the pocket

is

The

midshipman.

money

golf links, across

the county road beyond the marine barracks

and the hospital grounds, course that

is

afford a nine-hole

"sporty," and one that affords

The

fine views from every tee and green.

midshipmen who take advantage of these the periods allowed

consider that

links

Thursdays after four and Saturday

—are well spent.

noons

During the

first

two months

demic year the regiment

lives

The games held

football.

oji

of the aca-

and breathes

Farragut Field

attract a large service attendance fleet

from the

and from the Navy Department.

a result they are the occasion of activity in reunions, this

after-

As

social

and the talk centres on

During

one sport.

much

this period studies

naturally take a slump in the midshipmen

body, and

look forward to their

first

break in the routine of studies and

drills

all

which comes with the for

the

Much

annual

trip to

New York

game with West

thought and energy

is

City

Point.

directed to the

BOAT SAILING. KNOCKABOUTS AND CATBOATS

TORPEDO BOAT MINE-LAYING LAUNCH

THE DEWEY BASIN

:

Recreation and the maintenance

increase

The

football team.

and support

who

players, in

much

director,

result

is

perfect loyalty

for the bruised

are too sore in

mind by the end

with

of the enthu-

support by the midshipmen of their

siastic

to

219

day

of the

The

energy.

and the keeper

and battered

body and

cheer leader, song

of the goat are the

great factors in maintaining the spirit in

tired

to study lessons

the midshipmen

all

maximum

the time.

The

cheers and songs composed for the occasion are

many.

The song

longest test of time

that has stood the

and popularity runs as

follows ''Stand Sail

Navy down

set to the

the field

sky

We'll never change our course

So Army you steer shy-y-y-y. Roll up the score Navy /inchors aweigh

The

Sail

Navy down

And

sink the

Sink

the

trip to

New

successful one

the field

Army Army Grey." York, in 191 5, was a most

when considered only

in the

220 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

light of the pleasiire accruing to the regiment

and

its

exhibition of discipline,

and not from

the standpoint of successful football.

As the major portion of the battle fleet in the North River, the midshipmen found many friends and in general

was anchored

much man mis-

enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and, to the credit of the service, not a

behaved by so much as even missing the return train.

The

close of the football season is followed

by the opening of the indoor season ball,

of basket-

held in the large armory or Dahlgren

Hall; the fencing contests, the wrestHng

and

gymnastic meets, held in the gymnasium;

and the swimming meets, held tank, around which

is

in the large

a gallery permitting

the attendance of a great

many

spectators.

Saturdays are crowded with athletics and recreation.

The hops now claim the "fussers," this being the name applied to those midshipmen who are fond of society. The institution of hops began early in the history of the

221

Recreation Naval Academy, a

large naval ball being

given on the 21st of January, 1847, in the

new mess hall, one of the first buildings erected by the Navy Department on the Fort Severn reservation. One rear admiral of the class of '45 states that it was through the dance

Naval School

establishment

the

that

first

of

became known and

the re-

cognized by the good people of our coimtry, for the widespread circulation of the invita-

tions to the first

"Midshipmen's Ball" pro-

duced a gathering of the

sex from all

These dances are now held

quarters.

gymnasium, which taste

fair

with

flags

is

in the

decorated in very good

and

lights.

attractive receiving stand

There

is

an

ornamented with

palms and rubber plants and a band stand in

which an excellent band furnishes the

The

dance music.

decorations are altered

to conform to the season or occasion, such as Hallowe'en,

member

of the

New

Years, etc.

hop committee

is

To be a an honour

but Hkewise one that entails considerable responsibility

and work.

This helps to im-

Academy

222 Life at U. S. Naval

upon the midshipmen that honours and

press

empty;

not

are

responsibility

entails additional labour.

distinction

The expenses

of

the hop programs and the refreshments, the latter

usually consisting of lemonade and

ice cream, are

borne by subscription.

These

hops take place nearly every Saturday evening,

except during Lent.

The

officers also

hold a series of ten dances, the midshipmen attending the ones of the series that are held

Curious slang has come into

on Saturdays.

use relative to hops. as his partner a

girl

If

a midshipman has

who becomes

successful

and popular, he has "floated a femme."

If

he escorts to a hop a young lady living in the Yard, he

"dragging a yard engine";

is

young lady

is

and

all

drill

the

a resident of Annapolis or

"Crabtown," he

Upon

if

is

"dragging a crab."

national holidays

work and study

are suspended, with the exception

of attendance at mess-formation.

At

seven-

thirty in the evening, however, the studies for the next is

day must begin.

Little leave

granted during the year; only about forty-

Recreation

223

eight hours to the two upper classes at Christ-

This short respite means more to a

mas.

midshipman than do two weeks

to the average

collegian.

The

and spring

fall

for tennis,

lotted the

afford opportunities

and the twenty-three courts

al-

midshipmen are generally occupied

whenever the weather and the condition

of

the clay courts permit.

The midshipmen have many friends among the famihes Hving in the Yard and in the Consequently there are

town.

breaks, such as dinners

social

and teas and

calls

who care for glimpses of home life.

during the week ends, for

such pleasures and the

many

The most mournful

all

bugle-call

ever

in-

vented from the viewpoint of the midship-

man,

is

surely the "study call," which on

every Sunday evening at 7.30, orders him to his

room

to

"bone"; and thus, with a

real anticlimax, abruptly

end

his pleasant

moments of Saturday and Sunday. The midshipmen have many activities outside their studies

and perform them

all

:

224 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy amazed although

so well that the officers are

they themselves have been through the same mill

and have

fulfilled

The weekly

the same requirements.

paper, The Log, the publica-

tion of which requires a large

work and

late hours,

place in academic

ment

of

by keeping the

regi-

in touch with the athletics, the studies,

and the recreations ing

life

amount

a very important

fills

of the

Academy, produc-

gybes at the expense of the various

academic happenings which serve to brighten the downhearted. spirit

Much

and the backing

of the regimental

of the athletic

can be credited to this paper.

and

issue are

etc.,

known

as

Mark

III.,

volume

Mod.

12,

nomenclature following that of guns

and torpedoes and mines. represented on acteristic is

Its

teams

its editorial

editorial

All classes are staff.

dated January

A

char-

i,

19 16,

here reprinted " Let's consider things.

in football races.

and baseball.

We lost to the Army We lost our three crew

In lacrosse, we did extremely well with In tennis and track team we held

a green team.

^^

mi

Recreation

225

In the indoor sports, our gymnasium its third year of unbroken defeats, our wrestling team kept a clean slate, and our swimming team took every meet by a our own.

team went through

good margin. And lastly, the only championship meet that we did receive the Little Iron Man to the iminitiated, the fencing champion-

—

—

ship trophy. " Are you satisfied?

think

it

you are, turn in and Next Saturday begins

If

over tomorrow.

a new year, and things won't

make

it

a big year.

come by merely wishing

You've got to get out and get busy. up to you."

for

These them.

It is dis-

tinctly

The midshipman

annual. The Lucky Bag,

requires, for its editing

large

and capable

and management, a

literary staff.

It is

such

a sizeable undertaking that work upon

it

must be begun during the second-class year.

The

first

classmen in order to produce this

annual are obliged to do an extraordinary

amount

of

work

aside

from their

Those who are responsible have to give up many afforded

by

athletics

an elaborate record 15

studies.

for its publication

of the other pleasures

and hops.

The book

is

of the graduating class,

226 Life at U. S. Naval including photographs of class, as well as

acteristics that

all

Academy members

of the

personal remarks and char-

sometimes prove to be remark-

when in later years one Lucky Bag for reference.

ably applicable even turns to his " Where

is

our usual manager of mirth?

What revels are in hand? Is there no play, To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?" Shakespeare.

Then

there

is

the Masquerader organiza-

tion that gives performances yearly of minstrels, farces,

or operas, the

first

production

early in February, the second in June Week.

These plays are always well produced, a credit to

any

institution, especially so to the

Naval Academy where practically no time can be filched from recitations or drills for

The dramatic performances were inaugurated by the very first This class class that entered the Academy.

pursuits of this kind.

used the old theatre in Annapolis, the

site

of which is now occupied by the Presbyterian Church on Duke of Gloucester Street. The

Recreation first

22'j

play thus presented to the pubHc was

Bulwer's Lady of Lyons.

It is stated that it

was played to crowded houses

for

two

nights,

the midshipmen being the recipients of un-

bounded applause.

The Midshipmen's Musical Clubs

give a

performance that cannot be excelled any-

where either for the vocal or instrumental

An

portions of the program. at

some department and

and taken

in a harmless

shipmen and

occasional hit

its officers is

way

given

that both mid-

officers enjoy.

During Monday afternoons and on some Saturday and Thursday evenings

in

Lent

the band plays in Dahlgren Hall as an accom-

paniment to

roller-skating, a sport to

many members

which

of the Nav}^ colony as well

as the townspeople are devoted.

One entertainment, engineered entirely by midshipmen, that was very popular the past year and during the few years in which it

has been presented,

the Inter-Company

is

the

Gymkhana,

one

called

held in the

gymnasium on a Saturday evening near

228 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

the end of January after the conclusion of the

semi-annual examinations.

The word seems

to merit explanation as the majority of dictionaries omit

it.

It is

from the Hindustani

gend-khana, meaning ball house, the

given to a racquet court.

Thus

became a

it

place of public resort for athletic

name

games and

mean an athletic sports' display. The first known use of this word was by Major Trotter in 1861. The make-ups for

finally to

this

gymkhana, which

starts

off

with

a

grand march, comprise clowns, police, Mutt, Jeff,

Happy

Hooligan, Marcelline,

Gus, Jiggs, bull

fighters, toreador,

a menagerie, acrobats, sabre lers,

circus performers,

contests consist of

Gloomy

bandsmen,

fighters, wrest-

flunkies,

an obstacle

etc.

The

race, tug of

war, rag chewing, push-ball, hockey, comic wrestling, pillow battle,

human burden

race,

sabre battle, bull fight, chariot race, a breakfast formation race, etc., all the events re-

quiring some

little

athletic skill as well as

contributing to the pleasure of the evening.

This gymkhana apparently the most spon-

Recreation

229

taneous and extemporaneous the regiment,

Upon

able.

is

by

affair given

certainly not the least enjoy-

this occasion of

merry-making

mathematics and English are buried with

much

great solemnity but with

the second

class,

by

delight

as these subjects have been

completed at the semi-annual examinations.

For the few who did not try their best and failed,

with the penalty of a re-examination

May, this is decidedly not a joyous occasion. The details of this funeral service are careA proper gown and mask is fully planned. furnished the mock clergyman who reads a in

comic burial service a ;

firing

squad composed

of those w^ho nearly bilged, chief mourners, pallis

and body-bearers are

the bugler

squad have

who sounds fired

into,

all in

evidence, as

taps after the firing

not over

—

lest

dread math and English might gain new

—the

books

representing

the

the life

corpses

of

these subjects.

One

of the curious

Academy customs

that of baptizing the class rings.

classmen purchase

is

Second

large gold seal class rings

230 Life at U. S. Naval in January,

and gloat over them longingly

in secret until entitled to

upon the completion tion

Academic first

life

classmen

wear them openly

of their annual examina-

That

Navigation.

in

Academy

this

event

in

be properly celebrated, a few lie

in wait near the exit

from

the examination room, set upon the second

classmen

first

them over the

The

to leave

and promptly throw

sea-wall despite their struggles.

dripping second classmen, once on land

again, take good care that none of their class-

mates escape the ducking, no matter how fast

the

Maury

latter

may

sprint

upon leaving

Hall in a vain attempt to reach

quarters without the involuntary bath.

Examinations over, the week of graduation, called

June Week,

is

ushered in with the

Reception of the Board of Visitors by the regiment on the forenoon of the

last

Monday

The smooth lawns with their fresh green grass and the handsome trees in their new foliage, together with the trim-looking buildings and other objects refreshed by

in

May.

the annual coat of

new paint combine

to

Recreation

make

Academy

the

look

its

That the grounds

season.

attractive

is

due

231 best at

this

are thus unusually

in a great measiire to the

presence of the parents and the

many

friends

of those about to graduate as well as of

those about to leave on the

Daily

cruise.

military

summer

dress

practice

parades

are

held on Farragut Field, which, during the

week,

is

company comand infantry. At the

also the scene of the

petitions in artillery

Monday's

dress parade the presentation of

and

awards

for scholarship

place.

Excellence in scholarship on the part

of

the imdergraduates

star

on the

athletics takes

denoted by the

is

collars of their uniforms,

and

in

the case of the graduates by the following prizes,

awarded at

sword and cup

this

time and in this

The awards

public manner.

for

consist

of

a

Ordnance, a cup for Sea-

manship and International Law, a sextant for Navigation,

and

and medals

pistol shots.

for expert rifle

The awards

for athletics

were enumerated in the preceding chapter.

Much

interest

and

rivalry

exist

in

the

22,2

Life at U. S.

Naval Academy

various contests that compose the competition for the Regimental Flag,

which takes

place at the close of each academic year.

There are contests in infantry and drill,

seamanship, small-arm target practice,

sailing

and rowing

and

infantry

number of each contest. The

races; a stated

points are assigned for

ment

artillery

artillery drills for the assign-

of points to the

companies are held on

two forenoons in June Week. the companies

is

The work

judged by three

of

officers,

the movements required consisting of both battalion

and company movements.

battalion is exercised in close order

The

and then

goes through the function of dress parade, after

which company exercises at manual

of arms, extended order and street riot drills

take place.

Points are added up, and on

Thursday

June Week the winning com-

of

pany marches to the front and centre, and the young lady chosen by the company com-

mander

to present the flag

to its line

is

escorted close

by the Superintendent

demy, the Secretary

of the

Navy

of the

Aca-

often being

Recreation and

present,

the

colours

made while The regiment

speeches are

little

are

233

presented.

cheers the winning

company

in the pictur-

esque manner of seamen that inherit the old

custom

of "cheer ship,"

company

and the fortunate

young

cheers the

the regulation dress parade

The Masqueraders

lady, after is

which

resumed.

give two evening per-

The play of The garden party

formances during the week. 19 16

was

Christopher, Jr.

given by the Superintendent to the graduating class, takes place in the grounds of his large

and

The many

garden.

well-kept

coloured lights and decorations as well as the dresses

and uniforms make

tion a very attractive one.

by the which

first class is is

this func-

The german given

held in the gymnasium,

converted into a fine dance hall

for the occasion.

empty swimming

A

supper

is

served in the

pool, altered to resemble

sunken Italian garden.

a

Informal hops also

take place in Memorial Hall, and thus one

cannot justly complain of the lack of em-

ployment or entertainment provided after

234 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

the completion of the examinations.

The

June Ball takes place on Friday evening, graduation

having

exercises

occupied

the

morning, and, at this time, the president of the

new first

class receives

with the wife of

the Superintendent.

is

The morning of the next day, Saturday, spent by the new first, second, and third

classmen in

carrying

their

belongings

in

white clothes bags from the large bare rooms of Bancroft Hall to the tug Standish

motor launches squadron.

and the

of the ships of the practice

After the noon meal, the last to

be taken in Bancroft Hall by them for some four months, the midshipmen go aboard these craft

and are transported to the Roads,

there to board the waiting grey battleships for the three months'

ing

work amid new

quarters, sleep in

summer

cruise involv-

scenes, life in

hammocks

cramped

slung on the

none too airy decks, and the acquisition

of

the much-advertised accomplishment

known

At the conclusion

of this

as the sea habit.

cruise, the thirtieth of

August,

all

are given

Recreation

235

month of month at noon they report again at the Academy. For the use of those midshipmen who Hve great distances from AnnapoUs or for any

leave of absence for the entire

On

September.

the thirtieth of that

other reason cannot afford to take this leave, all

the various facilities of the

athletic sport

open and

Academy

for

and recreation are maintained

available.

A leave spent at the Academy with quarters in Bancroft Hall,

and opportunities

for en-

joying the boating, bathing, tennis, and golf

provided in such large measure and at no expense to the midshipman, thoroughly pleasant and quickly.

During

the

days

open for the midshipman's

professional literature.

be found

pass

will

weather the large library of

may find plenty of light

will

of

too

inclement

Mahan use,

all

Hall

is

wherein he

as well as the heavier

The

latter type pre-

dominates and comprises well-chosen books

on every part This Hbrary

is

shipman and

of a naval officer's profession.

always accessible to the midis

used as

much

as his time

236 Life at U. S. Naval allows. polis

The midshipman remaining in Anna-

may

in the

also spend a portion of his time

wood- working shop, constructing any

appliance that he

may

gliders, hulls of vessels,

thus evident,

of recreation as

it

fancy.

Aeroplanes,

and the

like,

have

The Naval Academy, offers as much in the way does in the way of study.

thus been constructed. it is

Academy

CHAPTER

XII

THE PRACTICE CRUISES *'The best protection against an enemy's

a well-directed

fire

from your own

fire,

guns.''

is

—

Farragut

Of

late years

the practice cniises have

been made in three of the second-line battleships,

each manned with a small enlisted

crew and officered by the

staff of the

Academy.

These three ships form the "Naval Academy

command of the Superintendent. The Commandant of Midshipmen remains at the Academy and Practice Squadron" under the

acts as Superintendent, supervising the car-

rying out of the regular course of instruction

and in

drills

given the fourth

a previous chapter.

short of being the

means 237

class,

as recounted

These vessels

fall

of imparting true

:

—

238 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

seaman-like qualities and

physical nealth.

The

latter defect is recognized

and taken

of the system of

care of in the adoption

compulsory physical training at the Academy, but the former remains uncorrected and the truth of the following statement becomes

each year more evident " Sailing ships have been the recognized train-

ing school.

The length

compared with those

of their voyages at sea

steamers,

of

and

the

character of the work on board, give greater

opportunity for the instruction of the

Observation

is

and resource

in times of

sharpened, energy,

emergency are

fast

battle

motor

craft,

all

in these

modern days

cruisers

and

of

small,

of huge,

speedy

there yet remains a plenty of

places in which the seamanship that

taught by the hard is

an absolute

working

in

stim-

Lord Brassey.

ulated and strengthened."

For even

sailor.

endurance,

the

life

essential.

craft

was

of the sailing craft

Those who are

that

compose the

^'fringes" of the great British fleet in this

The 19

war,

Practice Cruises

239

14-19 1 6, can amply testify to

this.

The gunboats, mine layers, and destroyers of our own Navy require the ability of sailors as well as of

seamen

performance

for the

of daily duties.

The commencement and

elaboration

of

the system of practice cruises that have been so beneficial to the course of training

may

justly be credited to Lieutenant T. T. Craven,

who

for eight

1860,

was

years,

1

850-1 855 and 1858-

Commandant

of

For a short time during the

Midshipmen. first

practice cruise, 1851, the steamer cock

Summer

John Han-

commanded by Lieutenant Craven, was

used within the confines of Chesapeake Bay.

The completing cruise of that summer was made in the sloop-of-war Preble off the coast of Maine.

Since that time cruises have been

undertaken every year with the exception of the year 1861,

when

the

Academy was

the confused state attending

Newport. Civil

War

The

its

in

removal to

practice cruises during the

were actual war-time cruises as

the vessels were held " in the best possible

240 Life at U. S. Naval condition for action."

Adams and Marion

Academy

In

1862, the

John

searched for Confederate

In 1863, the Macedonian pro-

privateers.

ceeded to Plymouth, England, thence to the

Bay

of Biscay,

and leaving Funchal, en route

home, because of the uncertainty of the whereabouts of the Confederate privateer .4 /a5awa, the ship was disgmsed so well as to be taken

on two occasions by those well

skilled in

such

matters as anything but an American; the

Marion searched teer

for the Confederate priva-

Tacony along the coast; and the America

kept watch on the approaches to Long Island Sound. In 1864, the year that marks the establish-

ment

of

the

first

Naval Academy Practice

Squadron, the Macedonian, Marion, Marblehead,

and America searched

for the Confeder-

ate privateer Florida off the Nantucket South

Shoals and the North Atlantic coast.

Among

the vessels used at various times

were the Plymouth,

Savannah,

and Dale,

while the Constitution as a station ship at the

Academy from i860

to 1871

was long

asso-

The

Practice Cruises

dated with the training sea-going habits.

The

of

241

midshipmen

in

vessel that has really

done the most service as a summer practice cruise ship first

is

the famous Constellation, which

commissioned in 1798 for active service

in the

War and

from 1844 to an extremely busy and useful

French

1855, after

rebuilt

came to the Naval Academy and took the midshipmen on every career as a man-of-war,

Summer cruise from that of 187 1 to that Since her passing, of the summer of 1893. many different vessels have been used, several vessels being required after the Academy was increased

As a

in size

in a squadron, thus reverting to a

precedent set in the

summer

of 1864.

The

time in which but a single vessel, the

Monongahela,

mer

act of July, 1902.

result of this enlargement, cruises are

now made last

by the

of 1900.

made the cruise, was As sail power died

the sumout, the

need for steam vessels for practice ships was considered to exist, and the small gunboat Bancroft, Itasca,

now

was

the coast guard schoolship

built.

In July, 1894,

it

took the

242 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

midshipmen to

second class

sea,

the two

other classes then being at sea upon the

This inaugurated a change in

Monongahela.

Up

the routine of the Naval Academy.

to

summer the second classmen had always spent their whole summer at the Academy that

working in the machine shops.

mer term

of

That sum-

machine-shop work has never

been restored in the curriculum of the Acad-

emy. as

Strange to relate,

as

soon

steam vessel was decided upon,

a

new

almost

sailing

one being of

heavy

vessel steel

was

built,

this

a

modern

with exceptionally large and

spars, for use

on the practice

cruises.

This was the Chesapeake, later renamed the Severn, which vessel with the Newport first

used during the

summer

was

of 1900.

The only change in the method of practice cruises came with the experiment in 1912 and 19137 when the midshipmen of the two upper classes, divided into

were placed

upon

battle-

the Atlantic Fleet,

these

classes

or thereabouts, ships

of

squads of twenty-seven

being distributed thus

among

fourteen to

THE

U.

S. S.

MISSOURI IX THE CULEBRA CUT OF THE PANAMA CANAL. JULY i6, 191S

AT SEA IN FORMATION

The

Practice Cruises

seventeen vessels of that

243

The

fleet.

third

classmen in 19 12, went by themselves on the Massachusetts for a coastwise cruise, and again,

with sixteen

on the

first

classmen as their leaders, 19 13 for a foreign cruise

Illinois in

that included Antwerp, Vigo, Cadiz, Gibral-

and Funchal.

This method

did

not

give the good results anticipated and

was

tar,

wisely

harm

abandoned

before

to the education

very

extensive

and training

of the

midshipmen had been done.

The Naval Academy as

Practice Squadron

such has thus continued

influence

acter

upon the formation

and training

of the

its

beneficial

of the char-

Navy's

line officers

since 1903, with the exception only of

two

and 191 3. For the summer of 191 6 the same vessels that made the cruise

years, 19 12

in 191 5 through the

Panama Canal and

to

the Expositions at San Francisco and San

Diego are to be used, namely, the battleships Missouri, Ohio, and Wisco7isin. represent ships of about the best

when

built

These three

same

era,

— 1901-1903—but now

the rele-

244 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

gated to a second-line place in the

fleet

and

habitually kept in reserve, none of the three

having been regularly in the active battle

The normal displacement

fleet since 1912.

the

first

two

vessels

12,500 tons, of the

The

11,552 tons.

latter

is

of

first

two are 388

2]A inches beam, drawing

feet long, 72 feet

23 feet II inches of water, speed 18.15 knots, with batteries of four 12 ''-40 guns, sixteen

6"-50 guns,

3^-50 guns, and two 18"

six

The

submerged tubes.

armour

is

The Wisconsin of

a

water-line belt

of

11 inches, the turrets 12 inches.

little

is

but

older

little different,

although

type having been com-

missioned two years ten months before the others.

Her battery

consists of four l3''-35

guns, fourteen 6^^-40 guns, and four 3^-50

guns with armour belt of i6>^ inches, turrets of 15 inches.

The

ships are sufficiently

modern

to give

the midshipmen a correct impression of the

complicated mechanism of a modern battleship,

how a ship is organized and administered,

as well as to teach

them seamanship, naviga-

The tion,

Practice Cruises

245

gunnery, marine and electrical engineer-

The midshipmen classes are divided, one third of the members going on board

ing.

each vessel, making a total on each vessel

Aboard ship the

of about 220.

first

classmen

immediately begin as understudies of the

commissioned

officers,

up the general

turret

and

all

classes take

and gun division duties

with seaman lookouts and details in watch standing and in boats, together with duties the

in

engine

room,

fire

rooms,

dynamo

rooms, and the radio operating. Prior to leaving Bancroft Hall the mid-

shipman has found on the bulletin board his

watch number, and has been given a

pamphlet

of directions as to

what to do im-

mediately upon reporting aboard his ship.

The its

directions include his locker location,

his

mess,

number,

where to stow his

clothes-bag and dress-suit case, his assign-

ment

to a division

for the

and

his first week's detail

performance of his part of the

life

of the battleships, and, in general, the regulations

and routine

of the vessel.

The classes

246 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

are divided equally into four divisions, three for

deck duty and one for engine-room duty.

One

fourth of the time of the cruise

is

thus

spent in the engine room, the divisions taking this duty in rotation.

In the case of the upper classman relation

in a similar

the

to

who

is

"youngster"

Academy soon settles down

as were the "oldsters" of the early

days,

life

on board the ship

to a routine to which he quickly accustoms

himself

by

virtue of his previous practice

cruise or cruises.

To

the

new "youngster,"

however, the daily order of things

is

decidedly

novel and to become acquainted with

it

is

Then too the latter is filled with forebodings as to how he will stand the sea, will the mat de mer be too much for him or not? With drills, meals, night watches,

not easy.

day's routine, and studies he

Not

the least of his troubles

is is

kept busy. learning to

keep himself and his clothes in cleanliness

many

and good trim

in the face of

This ability

one of the things that a marine

is

acquires tending to

difficulties.

make him more adapt-

SCRUBBING DECKS AND AIRING BEDDING

RANGE-FINDER DRILL

LIFE

ON THE PRACTICE CRUISE

The

Practice Cruises

247

able to peculiar conditions or surroundings

than

is

ordinary

the

clothes with a

Scrubbing

soldier.

"Idyi" and

salt

water soap

upon a wet forecastle is not the easiest of tasks.

Then to get a restful sleep of a night in a hammock, when that night, as a rule, is composed of not more than seven hours, broken by a four-hour watch of some sort, is not as easy as

it

might

be.

The keeping of his bedding dry, aired, and clean

is

taught by inspections and by

the airing of bedding; that

is

bringing

ham-

mocks on deck, opening out blankets, mattress-covers and mattresses and throwing the whole across the ridge-ropes and to dry in the

wind and sun.

This

life-lines is

invari-

ably done once or twice a week as the weather

may

permit.

Rainy nights on lookout with the spray everywhere,

salt

the ship plunging into

the dark seas that tumble over the

forecastle,

then rising again with the water pouring

from her

sides,

surely give the lonely

wet midshipman a

and

feeling of respect for the

:

248 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

ocean and one of responsibility in his profes-

Lucky

sion.

it is

for

him that the

salt

spray

tumbling aboard does not freeze and that the wind

not so cold that

is

it

cuts like a

These things are reserved for the

knife.

The midshipman on lookout during when sea- sick and wet to the skin, perhaps envies his West Point comrade, who at this time is enjoying the summer camp with its many social attractions, where one of the main objects

future.

a night of dirty weather,

in cadet life

is

to get into a pair of highly

starched white duck trousers without creasing them. sea,

he

However,

will agree

he really hkes the

if

with the old sailor

who

describes his feelings thus

"i4 strong nor^ wester' s blowing, Bill!

Hark!

don't ye hear

Lord help

'em,

Unhappy

how I

it

roar

pities

Jolks on shore

In the morning when he ship

is

now?

them

now!" is

— Pitt.

dry,

and the

steaming through blue waters, the

sun shining upon

all,

his spirits rise, so that

.f

iVMI

i THE BRIDGE

SHOOTING THE SUN IN THE EARLY MORNING

LIFE

OX THE PRACTICE CRUISE

The now he

feels

Practice Cruises

proud of

249

his profession, glad to

be upon his powerful battleship that as a part of the fleet that

sea habit,

built

must command the

happy that he

sea in war,

is

is

and quite ready to

acquiring the

sing:

I'm on the seal the sea! I am where I would ever he. With the blue above and the blue below, And silence wheresoever I go."

"/'w on

Proctor.

Some romance to

the grey

slight as

sea

the sea and

attaches

still

though

it

compared to that given by

sailing vessels

in all its

of the

battleship,

is

very

cruises in

where one really learns to know

its Hfe,

and

feels the

charm that is

moods from the wonderful moonlight

nights in a passage in the "trades," to the dark

and stormy ones

"^

of the "roaring forties."

wet sheet and a flowing sea,

A

wind

that follows fast,

And fills the white and rustling sail, And bends the gallant mast." Cunningham.

As Rear Admiral Luce has expressed

it:

Academy

250 Life at U. S. Naval

" Steamers produce seamen,

who

acquire the sea habit

it

—but

is

true

—men

not sailors in

men who do

the strict sense of the word,

not

only have the sea habit but the well-known characteristics of the sailor, his skill in meeting all

the vicissitudes of

life

at sea, his contempt

for danger, his self-reliance

under

his adaptability to all sorts

and conditions

Men

circumstances.

difficulties,

seasoned in that school

soon adapt themselves to man-of-war

The

of

routine to which the

life."

midshipman was

"plebe" summer and

subject

during

his four

academic years having been given,

his

the shipboard routine deserves specification.

Underway

at sea the

day begins at

fifteen

minutes before midnight with the long

shrill

whistle of the pipes of the boatswain's mates

and the

their long drawling cry intended to rouse sleepers,

"All the starboard watch";

followed in ten minutes

wheel

watch

and is

lookouts."

by "Relieve the

At

midnight

the

mustered, and there are to be found

at the various stations alert midshipmen, intent

upon

their

duty no matter what the

The

Practice Cruises

251

weather and despite their recent rude awakening from the joys of sleep in a

Looking at these posts, there first

classmen as the

officers of

hammock.

will

be found

the deck, the

junior officers of the deck, the petty officers of the watch, the

quartermaster,

and the

coxswain of the Hfeboat; while below in the

room

radio is

receiving

yet another

men

first

and sending messages

classman; second class-

on the bridge as signalman, at the wheel

as steersman, on the lower decks as corporal of the guard

;

and third classmen at the wings

of the bridge as lookouts,

and

as orderly to the captain.

watch will

by the

is

life

buoys,

After the

mustered, the men composing

it

spend the time until four grouped in

certain parts of the ship

and within easy

call,

the lookouts and details as given above being relieved at

A new

watch comes on

similarly at four

This watch "turns to" at five A.M.,

A.M.

and

two a.m.

after coffee

washes down the deck and

scrubs paintwork. lights

are turned

At off,

sunrise the running

the

speed cones are

252 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

yardarmed, the breakdown

flag

bridge lookouts called

midshipmen,

of

watch, "all

is set.

hammocks" ten

within

the

Then is

in,

and a new watch

steering

toilet

called,

which means that

minutes every

hammock must netting.

its

takes place a scramble for a hasty

under considerable

difficulty,

necessary inconveniences of ship fast

engine-room

at 7 a.m., or six bells,

be lashed and stowed away in

Then

run up, the

comes at

7.30.

All

though

Break-

life.

meals are served

exactly as they are to enlisted battleships, being hearty

due to the

men

of the

and strengthgiving,

plain.

Before the breakfast and up to nine the first

classmen will be busy "shooting the

sun," and scurrying about for their

C

minus

W's;^ and the other data necessary to work

out their

sights, the

rough log being consulted

and the almanac searched. Quarters 9.15 A.M.,

is

for

muster and inspection at

followed

by physical drill, accord-

ing to the Swedish system of calisthenics. '

Chronometer time minus watch time.

SCRUBBING CLOTHES AFTER COALING

LANDIXG PARTY LEAVING FOR A SHORE PARADE.

COALING SHIP U.

S.

S.

WISCONSIN

The

Practice Cruises

253

Drill at the battle stations follows

instruments

used in

connection

and

with

battery are tested out under power.

all

the

The

midshipmen here acquire the rudiments plotting

of

and tracking a possible enemy, how

to determine

and

ranges,

how

the sight-setting and pointing

to control

of the

bat-

tery to the end that no shots will miss their target.

The midshipmen spends from 8.15 to

engineer division daily 11. 15 a.m.

and from 1.15

to 4 P.M. at various instruction details that

include the important auxiliary machinery as well as the propelling installation of the battleship,

and the

electrical plant

with

its

multitudinous appliances and uses in every

compartment

of the vessel.

given as close attention as

The deck drill in

tery.

divisions

is

The

fire

room

is

the engine room.

receive

painstaking

loading and pointing the guns of bat-

When expertness

acquired, speed find their

is

in these

taught.

The

two duties

is

sight-setters

duty by no means so simple as they

had supposed.

The

range-finder crews are

Academy

254 Life at U. S. Naval drilled

The

constantly.

fire-control party,

upon which the whole success practice that cruise

may

is

of the target

usually held at the end of the

depend, works persistently at

somewhat tame but exacting Shortly before noon the

its

duties.

first

classmen are

again in evidence on deck in a struggle for the sights of the sun that are necessary in

work and then

their navigation

take dinner.

at

noon

all

The morning instruction period

has continued until 11.15, and that of the afternoon will continue from 1.15 to

On

4.

deck the midshipmen signalmen get

constant exercise in

semaphore

all

The midshipmen

signalling.

cers of the deck are

kinds of flag and offi-

busy always with the

stadimeter and, in the endeavour to maintain proper distance

from the next ship ahead,

sometimes are decidedly too busy with the

—but then

engine telegraphs cruise

is

for,

to learn

by

this is

what the

experience.

The

midshipmen must carry out the routine the ship under the watchful tutor, the

commissioned

of

eye of their

officer of

the watch,

The who

Practice Cruises

actually responsible for

is

always at hand to in surmounting the

them

assist

255 and

all

is

the midshipmen

difficulties

that

in handling the ship or the

come

to

men.

The night watch standing is reduced to a minimum in order that the midshipmen may not be too tired to absorb the instruction

and to study the lessons of the day.

As these

lessons take place

morning and afternoon,

much

time during the day for

there

is

not

sleeping or "caulking off."

afternoon an hour

is

After four in the

generally

consumed

in

the scrubbing of clothes.

The

cruises are divided as nearly as

may

be to allow one half the time under way at sea

and the other

half at anchor in port.

When

at anchor the routine varies considerably

with the omission of the large number of duties

known

the ship for

is

as the sea details.

The duty

of

assumed by one division at a time

a period

of

twenty-four hours.

This

arrangement requires the presence on board of

one quarter of the midshipmen at

times.

all

Academy

256 Life at U. S. Naval

One important but most disagreeable task falls to the lot of the midshipmen soon after the arrival of their squadron in port.

the ship's bunkers with coal,

is

the

—

a most necessary but

filling of

This

difficult, laborious,

and unspeakably dirty occupation.

In coal-

ing speed records are striven for between the ships

and between the

which

practice,

divisions

on the

by imparting an

ships,

interest in

the job, hastens the completion of the coaling

Then comes the

decidedly.

cleaning of the

and the scrubbing of one's

ship

clothes.

Coal dust mixed with water and sand are everywhere for a space of about four hours,

which the ship from an apparently

after

ineradicable

state

of

confusion

and

dirt

emerges as orderly and as spotless as the

Navy's men-o'-war habitually

On

shore the midshipmen find plenty to

amuse and If there is

ball

interest,

be the port what

no sociable

teams

will

life

it

may.

available, the base-

organize and play ashore,

and the race boat's crews real

are.

hard work in the

will get

effort to

down

to

win the cup

"1

The that

Practice Cruises

competed

is

for annually

shipmen from the three

ships.

257

by the midThis cup

is

Cup, having been pre-

called the Lysistrata

sented by Mr. James Gordon Bennett, the

owner

of the

steam yacht of that name.

In 191 5, the race for this cup took place in the harbour of San Diego and was the U.

S. S.

Wisconsin.

tion for target practice

is

won by

Constant preparacarried on,

and the

regulation requirements of the target practice office of

the Department are followed, with

the result that a creditable showing erally

made

in the last

is

gen-

in the practice that takes place

two weeks

of the cruise.

The midshipman spends the latter part of his summer cruise in planning for that one month's leave

in

which he must have

enough unhampered freedom and pleasure to last

him through the next academic

The

vessels generally land the

in Annapolis during the last

year.

midshipmen

week

in

August,

which time seems to approach more and yet

more slowly

as the cruise

Thus the midshipman 17

draws to an end. of the present has

•

258 Life at U. S. Naval none

of the school of the

Academy

masts and

save the small boat handling yet ;

we

sails

—

believe

that he will prove as capable as any of the

country's former blue-water sailors

time comes for the proof.

Cradock though

expressed in

different

it:

when the

As Rear Admiral "The main sheet,

form,

nation's ships to windward."

still

drives

the

CHAPTER

XIII

THE POSTGRADUATE ''Knowledge

is

more than equivalent

to force."

—

Johnson.

Postgraduate work may be stated to have been begun through the energy and perseverance of one graduate,

Cadet Engi-

neer F. T. Bowles, who, in 1881, after discouragements,

obtained

many

permission

for

himself and a classmate, Richard Gatewood, to take a course in naval architecture at the

Royal Naval College at Greenwich, England.

to the

These

officers

were nominally attached

Trenton, but were given indefinite

leave therefrom.

Their course consumed two

years, at the expiration of

which period they

were appointed assistant naval constructors and, as

is

the

way

of the world, they, being 259

Academy

26o Life at U. S. Naval

new

the beginners of

were then received corps by

its

ideas

and customs,

unwillingly

that

into

Thereafter two or

older officers.

more graduates each year pursued a

similar

postgraduate course at Greenwich, Glasgow,

From

or Paris.

October, 1897, to

March,

was temporarily interrupted

1899, this plan

by a half-hearted attempt to carry out a postgraduate course of two years at the Academy, then was resumed and continued the

until

present

method

of postgraduate

courses for the several corps of the service

came

into operation.

Ensigns for the con-

struction corps, beginning in February,

1 913,

were returned from sea to the Naval Aca-

demy

postgraduate

months

of

school,

and

after

six

study there were sent to the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology for

a course covering from two to three years.

The

special course of

one year, the fourth

at the

Academy, given

to naval cadets for

the

engineer

specialization,

corps

begun

was abandoned

in

marine engineering

in

in June,

September,

1889,

1899, because of

The Postgraduate

261

the amalgamation of the line and engineer corps.

Soon the necessity

for higher educa-

tion and specialization in marine engineering,

ordnance, and electricity became too apparent to be longer deferred, and in December, 1904, the postgraduate system of schooHng

was applied

to officers for ordnance

selection of four for special study

by the

under the

general direction of the Bureau of Ordnance.

This idea was taken up by the Bureau of

Steam Engineering with the appointment eleven officers

January, 1906. in engineering

who were

to begin

work

This plan of training

of in

officers

and ordnance was continued

for a few years.

As the

results of the imsystematized edu-

cation failed to meet expectations, the School of

Marine Engineering was established at the

Naval Academy, June

9,

1909, with classes

consisting of ten officers for marine engineers

and a course that extended over two years.

Commencing June,

19 13,

the second year

for the engineering students

Columbia University.

was taken at

262 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

In November, 1912, the ordnance students

came

to this school at Annapolis for a course

of four months,

and,

in

February,

came the naval constructors. The Navy Aviation Corps of

its

early

owes much

also

and organization to

training

Annapolis, which was

19 13,

its

headquarters during

the years 191 1, 1912, and 1913.

hangars

Its

were for a time located just inside Greenbury

was found, however, that stray

Point.

It

bullets

from the

position

rifle

range rendered this

unsuitable and

the hangars were

removed to a point near the Engineering During these years

Experimental Station.

the sight of seaplanes and the soiind of the

common now only news items and

whir of their noisy propellers were to Annapolis, where

pictures

remind

the

midshipmen

of

this

important branch of their profession.

Thus the present curriculum and the methods pursued in the ally

in

Navy may be

commenced

The specialized

in

postgraduate said truly to

the

courses

have actu-

summer

experts in the Navy,

of

191 3.

men who

A CORNER OF THE ELECTRICAL LABORATORY

White Studio

THE MACHINE SHOP

The Postgraduate

263

are seagoing and yet both practical retical

experts

electrical

in

ordnance,

engineering,

development of

all

and

and naval construc-

and who are capable

tion,

and theo-

marine,

of design

work and

mechanisms, are being

developed by this Postgraduate School firmly

established

at

the

officer after a course in this school

now

An

Academy,

becomes a

when on a shore detail and an allround officer when at sea. His sea experience enables him to know what is wanted, specialist

special

his

education

qualifies

him,

when

next on shore, to produce the gear, design, or what not required

by the seaman.

these graduates are our

most valuable

Hence officers,

and, having had this special opportunity,

they

feel

an obligation to prove worthy of

the education that has been given them.

A

recent

example of the advantage of

having such specialists at sea was furnished in

September,

191 5,

when a superdread-

nought, by reason of the bursting of the casing of the steam turbine that drove her

main

circulating

pump, would,

in all likeli-

264 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

hood, have been obliged to leave the

had

for repairs,

it

ate engineer student on board, who, scientific calculation of the istics,

fleet

not been for a postgradu-

of the various

by a

motor character-

motors on board, was

enabled to select and doctor up one where-

with to drive the

pump and

successfully, that the vessel

did his task so

operated at

full

power during war manoeuvres and was not required to undergo finther repair until a

month

later

when

she proceeded to dockyard

for her routine overhaul.

The

years at sea implant in the young

heart the ambition to learn and he

officer's

work

enthusiasm and

comes to

his

interest.

Indeed these young

full

of

officers,

specially selected, find study a pleasure

not

the

necessary evil

it

all

and

was considered

when they were undergraduates, its only use mind then being that it enabled them

in their

to

pass

the

are dry, hard,

and intangible to the young

midshipmen who,

young

officer,

Mathematics

examinations.

to use the

even at

words of one

times,

believe

the

:

The Postgraduate

265

subject to be only a cunningly devised scheme

mental torture.

of

In

the

Postgraduate

School, however, the application of mathe-

matics to everyday science becomes apparent,

and the student

realizes that

without mathe-

matics he can never do exact work of any

However, the experience

kind in this world.

of several years at sea in the fleet has caused

an

change of his viewpoint, and the

entire

value to him of engineering knowledge

appreciated in

its

true proportion.

He

is

finds

that the undergraduate training has of necessity

been

insufficient,

and he must look

postgraduate course to supply this ency.

The scope

to a

defici-

the engineering field

of

with which the graduate midshipman must

have some familiarity

is

so extensive that

the imdergraduate course, as has been explained, its

is

necessarily largely descriptive in

nature and time

is

not available for

much

fimdamental theory.

The technical duties in the various phases of naval engineering for which postgraduate education

is

required, may be tabulated as follows

266 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

HULL ENGINEERING (Naval Construction)

The

designing, building, fitting,

and

repair-

ing of hulls of ships, capstans, windlasses, steering gear,

and ventilating apparatus; the

designing, construction,

certain

ammunition

and

installation

hoists, the placing

of

and

securing of armour; the designing and installation of supports for everything attached

to the hull of the ship, including

armament

and propelling machinery

machinery

;

electric

for turret turning, boat cranes,

deck winches;

the docking of ships.

ORDNANCE ENGINEERING

The

manufacture, purchasing,

designing,

and inspecting ammunition

of

guns and gun mounts;

hoists,

rammers, gun sights and

telescopes, periscopes,

struments;

smokeless

and other high

and other

optical in-

powder, gun cotton,

explosives;

torpedo tubes,

torpedoes and mines, air compressors, armour, projectiles, small

ments,

ment

fire

arms and infantry equip-

control apparatus;

of the

the manage-

Naval Gun Factory, the Naval

The Postgraduate

267

Proving Ground, the Naval Smokeless Powder

Factory,

Torpedo Stations, and

the

various naval magazines.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

At

sea.

As

on shipboard,

electrical officers

the operation and maintenance of

all electric

machinery, from the switchboard.

On

The

shore.

inspecting

of

appliances

except

ammunition

all

hoist

designing, purchasing,

machinery

electric

turret

turning

and and

motors,

motors, boat cranes, and

deck winches.

RADIO ENGINEERING

At

sea.

As a radio

officer

on

staffs

of

commanders-in-chiefs. Squadron and Flotilla

commanders; development and control of radio

communication and maintenance of

apparatus.

On

shore.

Designing,

inspecting,

fit-

and repairing

of

radio installations.

The administration

of

the

ting,

Service.

Naval

Radio

Academy

268 Life at U. S. Naval

MARINE ENGINEERING At

As

sea.

chief

engineers or assistant

engineers; the operating, maintenance, repair of motive

On

shore.

and aiixiHary machinery.

The

chase, inspecting, ling

and

machinery,

designing, building, pur-

and repairing boilers,

of propel-

pumps,

engines,

distilling

apparatus, refrigerating apparatus,

dynamo

engines.

The management

of the

Engineering Experiment Station and of the

Fuel Oil Testing Plant.

CIVIL

The ings

ENGINEERING

designing and constructing of build-

and

their

permanent

Yards and Naval

fixtures at

Navy

Stations, harbour works,

waterfront improvements, graving docks, and floating docks,

power

plants, roads, streets,

tracks, hoisting appliances, cranes, derricks,

transportation dredges,

and

equipment,

steam

shovels,

pile drivers, fire apparatus.

During the period

of the

the postgraduate idea

in

development of the Navy, i88l

The Postgraduate for

the construction corps,

269

1904- 1906 for

the other speciaHzed corps, there was discussion

proper

ment

and

service opinion

It is

conflict of opinions as to the

new departpostgraduate education. The best

site for

of

at the

much

the

home

of the

deems the present location

Naval Academy

to be the wisest one.

important to maintain the early part

of the course

under the direct control of

naval

who

officers,

are thus permitted to

observe the students closely and determine

work and thoroughly them an appreciation of responsibiHty as regards their future work at the colleges and in the naval service. The Naval their fitness for the

to instill in

Academy

furnishes well-equipped engineering

and chemical laboratories and there close at

is

located

hand the Engineering Experimental

come the strengthening of the service spirit and the valuable influence and aid of the Academic Staff. The faciUties of the Naval Academy Station of the Navy, and above

all,

for the preservation of the physical health

of the students are also important considera-

270 Life at U. S. Naval tions.

The

Academy postgraduate

addition of the

department benefits the Naval Academy as

an educational

institution, the function thus

entrusted to

lending dignity and elevating

its plane.

it

The

by the unity

service spirit

is

strengthened

of interest resulting

fact that the undergraduates

from the

and the post-

graduates are studying at the same institution.

The presence incites the

of these postgraduate students

midshipman

to harder work,

and

the student officers feel that they must set

Young

a good example. liar

officers

among

fami-

surroundings will pick up the habit of

study more quickly than they possibly could in a place with

The

no familiar landmarks.

administration of the school

is

exam-

ined and approved from time to time by a council

composed

of the Superintendent of

the Naval Academy, the

Head

mental Station, the Heads departments

of

of the Experi-

of the

Ordnance and

Electrical Engineering

academic Gunnery,

and Physics, Marine

Engineering and Naval Construction, Mathematics together with a naval constructor,

White Studio

MEASURING SHAFT HORSE-POWER BY TORSION METER AND PRONY BRAKE. SHAFT DRIVEN BY CURTIS TURBINE

White Studio

THE FOR&E SHOP

The Postgraduate a

civil engineer,

271

and the Head of the Post-

graduate Department. The latter is at present Lieutenant

an

officer

Commander John

neering educational

the to

Navy

position he occupies.

descriptive of the

The teaching

work

and three

under the guidance of

who understands what

officer,

of the school.

staff of this school consists

of three civilian professors all

and

requires

This

based largely upon a recent article

is

by him

is

officers

instruc-

naval

this

the

service

thus able intelligently to

The

direct the courses.

naval

whose service in

lines,

chapter

tors

jr.,

has been of a character especially

him for the

fit

Halligan,

of recognized ability along engi-

on duty

services of

in the

many

undergraduate

department of the Academy as instructors are also utilized to staff is line,

fill

out the courses.

The

wholly composed of experts in their

of trained instructors

famiHar and in

close touch with industrial conditions

modern engineering which

is

Much

practice,

the

field

and of

widening so rapidly these days. instruction

is

given

by

lectures,

2^2 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

and much by practical work tories.

The forenoons

in the labora-

in general are

devoted

to lectures or recitations; the afternoons, on

the other hand, are devoted to drafting-room or laboratory work, the division of time be-

tween theory and practice being about even. There are scheduled about

fifty-five

week to be devoted to work lectures,

and preparation.

hours per

in the laboratory,

Fifteen hours of

home are required, and an enmade to hold the students to that

preparation at

deavour

is

amount, but the record turned

in

by the

stu-

dents shows an average of over twenty hours.

Compulsory physical

exercise

is

scheduled

for three periods per week,

which come just

before luncheon.

minutes of this

time

is

Fifteen

spent in Swedish movements, this

being followed by forty-five minutes of handball during the indoor season

when weather and the permit.

and

of tennis

condition of the courts

This maintains the physical health

secured during the academic years and gives the student officers instruction in a form of exercise that is available in

most parts

of the

The Postgraduate world where vessels of the

273

Navy may

call

in their cruising duties.

The

officers

who

are to take this course

are selected carefully

by the

the

officers of

three bureaus concerned; namely, Ordnance,

Construction and Repair, and Steam Engi-

Their semi-annual reports of

neering.

their

ness,

officers,

whom as

reputation

their

fellow

the estimate of their seniors with

they are serving, their scholastic merit

shown

in the four years at the

Academy, and basis

among

fit-

their

own

Naval

requests form the

from which the selections are made.

The tabulated data which

follow, give a

clear idea of the size of the school at present

and the method

of carrying

on the courses,

as well as indicating the whereabouts of the

students in January, 1916:

AT ANNAPOLIS Marine Engineers

l6

Electrical Engineers

4

Radio Engineer Ordnance Officers Naval Constructors

5

Total z8

I

5 31

274 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Marine Engineers (Design) Marine Engineers (Shop Practices)

7 2

Electrical Engineers

10

MetaUographist

I

AT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Naval Constructors

13

AT RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Civil Engineers

3

AT STEEL PLANTS, NAVAL GUN FACTORY, PROVING GROUND Ordnance Engineers

The allotment indicates officer

of time

9

under instruction

what an opportunity the young

who

is

so fortunate as to be one of

these selected few, obtains in the compre-

hensive view of the whole naval profession that

is

thus given him (see opposite page).

The need for postgraduates, i. e., who are specially educated along a line in their profession, is

ally

met

officers

officers

certain

thus being gradu-

as far as the service

demands

ashore and afloat will permit.

for

The

The Postgraduate

z <

H H z

c en CQ

275

276 Life at U. S. Naval

much

Academy

number than it has at present, but for some years until the shortage of officers is gradually made up school can handle a

it

probable that

is

about

larger

the school will retain

present proportions.

its

Recently, 191 6, an inspection of the curriculum, of the laboratory appliances, of the

methods

and

of teaching

of the underlying

principles governing the school

a board of expert

was made by

civilian educators.

They

approved in most commendatory terms the school and their

its

methods.

result

of

work the hope has been kindled that a

special building will

Academy

as the

present building

and

As one

will

be erected in the Naval

home is ill

of the school.

The

adapted to the purpose,

almost certainly be requisitioned for

the needs of the undergraduate body, which

body, on account of the recent increases in the

number

of

midshipmen,

will require the use

of the present quarters of the school.

In marine engineering alone the

Navy

requires, according to the estimate of the

Bureau made

in January, 191 6, for its thor-

The Postgraduate oughly

efficient

twenty-three

operation two hundred and

This

postgraduates.

is,

of

There are at

the ideal situation.

course,

277

present fifty-six postgraduates of engineer-

As a

ing in the service.

the

fleet

result the vessels of

are being run at reduced efficiency

without the proper number of experts. is

believed that the officer

It

who completes

the course given in this school receives the

most complete engineering education that is

available in the present day.

the naval service

is

great,

The

gain to

and already many

problems in the science of engineering afloat

and

of

ordnance and of naval construction

have been successfully solved by the graduates of this school.

CHAPTER XIV GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS '

Its stately halls of learning.

How

impressively they stand,

Amid

its tall

ancestral trees,

O'er all the pleasant

The army ferred to the

area of

()l4,

land^

post at Fort Severn, as trans-

Navy, acres.

comprised an

in 1845,

The War Department

had acquired the property from the Dulaney family in 1808.

The

fort

was a small

cular rampart built in 1809

upon Windmill

Point, the easternmost extremity of lis,

on the

site

of the stone

had been erected there were about fourteen

feet high

The battery

Annapo-

windmill that

in 1760.

a space about one hundred

cir-

The

walls

and enclosed

feet in diameter.

consisted of four 24-pounders,

six i2-pounders,

and two 6-pounders. 278

This

Grounds and

as time passed, lost

fort,

fortification; its

1868,

emy,

in

character as a

wood were added

Admiral Porter's it

its

279

guns were removed; a second

story and a roof of in

Buildino^s

finally,

;

about

administration

became the gymnasium which capacity

it

Acad-

of the

served until the

gymnasium was completed. sequently it was merely a landmark

Sub-

present

early struggles of the

Academy

for existence

and even this significance was denied was

it

it

scription

on a stone block,

when

An

totally demolished.

in 1909

of the

in-

set into the present

Cooper Road, and a bronze

tablet,

set in

the comer of the gymnasium, are the only

reminders of the existence of the

had stood had

for

fort,

one hundred years and which

in turn served as

an army

for great-gun training of

fort,

a battery

midshipmen, and a

gymnasium that contained a bowHng and a swimming tank.

By

which

alley

1861, the time of the removal of the

Academy

to Newport, the grounds

had been

enlarged through two purchases, one in 1847,

and

made

the other in 1853, with the result

28o Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

that the acreage had increased to

26^

acres.

Since the return of the Academy, in 1865,

purchases of additional territory and the reclaiming of land from the river and harbour

At

fronts have steadily continued. 1916, the Naval

Academy

present,

proper, as bor-

dered by Dorsey Creek, Severn River, the harbour, and city of 11

1.05 acres of

Annapolis, comprise

which 44.7 acres are reclaimed

lands, the largest portion being the 17 acres

that form the greater part of Farragut Field.

Across Dorsey Creek to the north-west of the

Academy

lie

which pro-

113. 19 acres,

perty was purchased in two large first,

Strawberry Hill purchase.

now

located the cemetery, the U. S.

Hospital,

and part of the present

The second, that bought

The

lots.

known as Upon this

that bought in 1868, was

the are

Naval

golf course.

in 1869, called the

Prospect Hill purchase, includes the remainder of the golf course, the marine corps reservation,

and the

superintendent's

garden.

These two pieces of land are commonly known as the "Government Farm."

TrtM

Grounds and Buildings Across

Severn in a general north-

the

easterly direction are located the

the

Station,

buoy

station, the

comprising 176.5 acres,

Greenbury Point

cost $373,630.79,

Experiment rifle

and the farm on

the Naval

Academy

and that in the Government

Farm cost $34,218.75. The buildings of the Academy comparatively

Row,

modem

officers'

built

quarters of brick in

upon which they are located

ters,

Oklahoma because,

when

modem

built,

are

all

structures, the oldest

from 1893 to 1898.

loquially as

ranges

180 additional acres.

of

The land occupied by

being the

281

Upshur

The territory is known colas these quar-

were the best and most

in the yard, there was,

when they

were opened, a rush for them, recalling the

stampede

for desirable

sites

in

Oklahoma.

The remainder of the present Academy was commenced in 1899. The various buildings of the Academy at that date comprised architecture "of

temple to a colonial

all

modem

patterns from a Greek factory,

from an early

mansion to a later-day assemblage

Academy

282 Life at U. S. Naval flats, "^

of

safe

and were most

of

them

in

an un-

and unsanitary condition, being so

re-

ported by consecutive Boards of Visitors

many

for

years.

Governor Sayres of Texas, chairman of the

House Committee on Appropriations,

and Colonel R. M. Thompson, a years' standing but once a class of 1868,

civilian of

member

of the

were members of the Board of

which made a very strong

Visitors of 1895,

report insisting that something be done to

reHeve

the

urgency for proper buildings.

After stating that the Board considered that the Naval

Academy ought

to be an institu-

tion second to none in the world, one that

would meet every modern educational

re-

quirement and afford every convenience and

accommodation cadets,

and

to officers, instructors,

and

after characterizing the insuffi-

ciency of the present buildings in strong

"a reconstrucgrounds, and sanitation,

terms, the report concluded tion of buildings, '

Park Benjamin

p. 408.

in

The United States Naval Academy,

Grounds and Buildings upon the most approved modern and sanitary

tural

lines will

283

architec-

not only be an

incalculable benefit to the naval service, but

a progressive step which

will

meet the ap-

proval of the whole country."

Through the energy this report

of Colonel

Thompson

was not permitted to be pigeon-

and Secretary Herbert appointed a

holed,

board of survey to examine into the Academy's needs and to devise methods to meet This board was known as the Mat-

them.

thews' Board,

its

chairman being Commodore

Matthews.

E. 0.

Captain P. H. Cooper

was a most prominent working member thereof

and an advocate

Naval Academy.

In

of

an entire new report

the

Board were embodied the plans Ernest Flagg, an architect of

Much

and

erection of flats

of

New

the

Mr.

York.

importance was placed upon the ne-

cessity of reclaiming land

front

of

from the water-

in preparing the

new

buildings.

ground for the

"The

extensive

that surrounded the water-front exposed

or close to the surface at low water rendered

284 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

the providing of a proper sewerage system practically impossible.

The new

buildings

ought to be substantial fire-proof buildings

and

of indestructible material so situated

arranged as to be convenient, healthful, and thoroughly adapted to the requirements of

an institution that

to last for

is

all

time."

This was in January, 1896.

Matters drifted for two years longer, to

be

until

specific,

the

recitation

hall

was

Then Congress, 18981899, was asked to make the appropriation necessary to commence the work in accord-

found to be unsafe.

ance

with

the

one million

"Matthew's

dollars

applied toward

were

and

plan,"

obtained

to

be

the erection of the boat-

house (the present gymnasium and seamanship building), the armory, the power-house,

and a part

of the sea-wall.

money expended

The

additional

in the carrying out of the

plan was obtained in small appropriations

made from

year to year.

Once begun, the

construction of buildings progressed without interruption.

The Spanish-American War

Grounds and Buildings had popularized the Navy tions

so that appropria-

amounts were granted by

large

in

285

Later

Congress for the erection of buildings. however,

after

the

three

Dahlgren, Bancroft, and

buildings,

first

Luce Hall, were

completed of granite and limestone,

money was

cient

insuffi-

appropriated, and the re-

maining buildings of the new Academy had, in consequence, to

be built of grey enamelled

brick, terra- cotta,

and

plaster.

As a

result

they appear somewhat out of keeping with the

more

earHer,

solid

and

substantial

buildings.

Work on

the construction of the present

Naval Academy was commenced on March 28,

1899,

less

and was continued with more or

activity

until

1913,

when,

with

the

laying of the unsightly telegraph, telephone, lighting

and power Hnes underground,

to-

gether with the building of Dorsey Creek concrete

bridge,

the

Academy may

considered to have been completed.

really

The

be

con-

struction work thus occupied about eleven years,

and the cost has been $8,019,000

for

286 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

the buildings, and $446,000 for quay walls

and wharves.

The

as well as the

names that have been given

them

in order to perpetuate the

workers of the

notable

indicated on the

pended

map

names are

service,

of the

of

well

Academy

ap-

The plan has been to way as to faciliuse by midshipmen. The con-

to this book.

group the buildings tate

position of the buildings,

their

in such a

necting by covered ways of Bancroft Hall,

the quarters, to the in

gymnasium and armory,

which two buildings

tion

and sports are

all

the indoor recrea-

held, places these build-

midshipmen

ings within easy access of the

and allows the maximum amount for recreation,

covered

in

of time

the distance required to be

order

to

shift

clothes

being

reduced to the minimum.

The midshipmen's Bancroft Hall

is

quarters

rooms serves

of

as

a five-story granite building

arranged around three courts

which serve as

known

light-shafts

—two

to

inner,

the inside

midshipmen, and one outer, which

as

an esplanade before the main

Grounds and Buildings The

entrance.

building measures 773 feet

and 458 feet was $3,513,855.

in extreme length

The

287

total cost

in breadth.

When

the

building was designed the total strength of

the regiment was estimated at about 480

midshipmen.

However,

the

increased in numbers until

ment

it

regiment

had an

of 918 at the beginning of the

has

enroll-

academic

year 191 5-19 16, and the probable number for the

fall

of 1916

This increase in

1250.

is

numbers above that

for

which the quarters

were designed naturally has caused

many

complications, not the least of which

was

the change in the location of the mess hall

from

the

called

"Smoke

space

designed,

Hall

Recreation

Hall," to a space

now

but ill

officially

unofficially

suited for the

purpose under the terrace and almost on a level with the water.

croft Hall is the interior

effect

The rotunda

of

Ban-

most pleasing architectural

in

the Academy,

the walls

being high and ornamental, the floor laid in different coloured marbles.

A

handsome

stairway leads to Alemorial Hall from the

288 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

balcony of which can be seen Farragut Field

and the bay beyond. tains

many

officers

tablets

and many

Memorial Hall con-

commemorative

of naval

portraits of noted seamen.

used for assemblages of midship-

This hall

is

men,

an occasional dance, sometimes for

for

the class germans, in general as a reading-

room, and on Sunday evenings as the meeting-

M.

The room below this is the first classmen's smoking room and recreation room. From the rotunda on either side, stretch away the long dark corridors upon which the rooms of the midshipmen open. The first few rooms on either hand of the second floor or deck as officially place of the Y.

C. A.

—

called

sary

—are used

officials

who

for the offices of the neces-

carry on the administration

of the regiment of the midshipmen.

The armory (Dahlgren gymnasium (Luce Hall) are appearance,

being

Hall)

and

the

alike in external

connected

to

Bancroft

Hall by red-tile roofed colonnades. buildings are each 425 feet long,

These 100 feet

wide, and 75 feet high, and are built of granite.

Grounds and Buildings

289

the armory being the only building completed in exact conformity with the original design.

The former cost $445,635, Dahlgren Hall, the

first

the latter $589,720.

building of the

Academy, houses the department

of Ord-

nance and Gunnery, containing the tion-rooms, the

offices,

new

recita-

for the entire

rifles

regiment, workshops, guns, torpedoes, mines,

range finders, and

fire

control apparatus for

Luce Hall contains

instructional purposes.

the Seamanship department, the gymnasium,

swimming pool, and the offices

of the physical-

training branch of the Executive department.

The

Seamanship

department

many

has

models of great interest pertaining to course of instruction.

The

the auxiHary steam and

sail full-rigged

of-war Antietam

affords

large

its

model of

an excellent

manreal

object lesson in the knowledge that was re-

quired in the

sailing-ship

days.

Modern

appliances for handling present-day vessels are on

hand

for the detail instruction of the

midshipmen.

The next important group 19

of buildings,

290 Life at U. S. Naval from the centre is

known

first

as

of

which

the

rises

The

Group

new Academy had

but beginning with

of granite,

the Academic

the clock tower,

Academic Group.

three buildings of the

been built

Academy

the other buildings

all

were constructed of slip-coated grey-enam-

The change

elled brick.

very noticeable because This group

of colour. building,

known

of material is not

the

of

similarity

main

consists of the

as ]Mahan Hall, which con-

tains the librar}^

and the auditorium, and

two long wings, which house several academic departments.

The Hbrary was estabHshed Academy

almost coincidently with the Naval

for the purpose of supplying the Hterary

and

wants of the

and

professional

institution

started with the transfer to

volumes

of

under the of

a few

miscellaneous

works

Bancroft,

direction of Secret ar}^

htmdred

it,

which had belonged to the Hbraries of-war and navy yards.

of ships-

The yearly appro-

by Congress of two thousand dollars increase and support, begun in 1851,

priation for its

has continued to the present time, and

all

=

E-

<

—

2

<

Grounds and Buildings

291

books that relate to the Na\'y and to the profession of a naval

The

librar>^

ofificer

are purchased.

undoubtedly possesses the most

complete collection of naval literature in the country, being particularly rich in bio-

graphy, general history, and mathematics.

From

the modest collection of 4751 volumes

at the end of 1855,

it

had increased

at the

end

of the year 191 5 to the respectable figure of 55,744 volumes.

The

present quarters of

the Hbraiy" in !Mahan Hall were occupied in 1907.

from

Hall,

The auditorium, known its fine collection

as

Trophy

of flags that are

of historical value to the country because of

capture in war or because of other

their

associations, contains

a stage, which serves

for the entertainments given

by the

Alid-

shipmen's Musical Clubs, the Masqueraders,

and

for the \asiting glee clubs or lecturers,

while hops,

its floor is

used at times for the

oflBcers*

and the dancing instruction of the

midshipmen.

Maur>" Hall, the north-eastern

wing of the Academic Group, contains the recitation-rooms and offices of the depart-

Academy

292 Life at U. S. Naval

merits of Navigation, Mathematics, English,

and

Modem

Sampson

Languages.

Hall,

the south-western wing, houses similarly the

department of Electrical Engineering and Physics,

containing also one of the most

complete

electrical laboratories in the

try,

coun-

a chemical laboratory, and a large

lec-

ture-room having a seating capacity of four

hundred that

is

used by

partments in common.

all

academic de-

This building cost

Architecturally and in the light

$1,408,012.

of suitability for the purpose for erected, this group

is

by

factory of any upon the It is a building

and

which

most

far the

Academy

it

was

satis-

grounds.

worthy of the Naval Academy

of the country.

Beyond

this building to the north-west is

the building of the department of Marine

Engineering and Naval Construction, known as Isherwood Hall. is

quartered on

ing.

This

is

around two

The postgraduate

school

the third floor of this build-

a well-lighted building, erected interior courts,

180 feet and

cost

and

$406,592.

is

It

275 by contains

Grounds and Buildings machine,

and wood-

coppersmith,

boiler,

293

working shops together with forge and mould-

The corridors of the main floor occupied by many models operated by

ing plants.

are

compressed

and by

types of machinery,

of all

air

sections of vessels.

Thus the

appli-

ances used in propelling, maintaining, and building vessels for the

Navy can

be ex-

plained from actual models.

The

chapel, with its unusual ornate yellow

and white dome, ing of the

is

120 X 120

the most prominent build-

Academy, and truth compels one

to record that

chapel

is

it is

the ugliest as well.

form of a Greek cross

built in the feet,

The

with a dome over the centre

201 feet in height.

It cost $374,194.

The

comer-stone of this building was laid June 1904,

3,

and the building was opened with

divine service on

May

The chapel

24, 1908.

has a total seating capacity of 1600.

It is

provided with an excellent electro-pneumatically operated organ.

The

some though poorly

lighted,

marble sarcophagus

which

in

crypt, very hand-

contains

lie

the

the remains

294 Life at U. S. Naval of the Navy's

first

Academy

great sailor

and

hero,

John Paul Jones. The Administration Building on Blake

Row

contains the offices of the Superintend-

ent,

the officer in charge of buildings and

grounds, the board of labour employment,

and has rooms

for

academic

and courts

top floor its

board

meetings of the

the

martial.

Its

occupied by the drafting-room;

is

basement

is

used by the printer.

The Superintendent's house, on Blake Row, the Officer's Mess on Goldsborough Row, in which bachelor officers are quartered,

and

the quarters of the various departmental

heads on Porter are

all

Row

("Rascality

most substantial and roomy and are

built of the

same grey brick that was used

in the construction of the

The

officers'

Upshur

Row")

Row

Academic Group.

quarters on Rodgers are of red brick,

Row

and

and mark the

only change from the uniformity of colour within the

Academy

not very noticeable,

This change

walls.

the

location

borders of the large athletic

field

is

on the

and the

Grounds and Buildings

295

screen of maples bordering the row, favouring the obscuring of the colour contrast.

As the

buildings are centrally lighted

heated, the power plant extensive.

The power

house, built of the

same grey brick as are the buildings of the ers,

generators,

the plant

Wilcox

400

larger part of the

Academy, contains the

and pumps required.

consists

of

and

necessarily quite

is

boil-

Briefly,

seven Babcock and

horse-power

steam at pressure of 125

lbs.,

Jones underfed stokers.

and

The

fitted

coal

by gravity from overhead bunkers capacity of 2400 tons,

carrying

boilers

the

with fed

of a total

usual

carried being but one half of this.

is

amount For the

fresh-water service there are two centrifugal

pumps and one duplex plunger pump,

the

former of capacities of 500 gallons per minute each,

and the

latter of 1500 gallons; and, in

addition, one centrifugal

lons performs the

pump

of 250 gal-

hot-water service.

The

salt-water service of the yard for fire protection

and other purposes

is

two duplex plunger pumps

maintained by of the capacity

296 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy The boiler The heating

of 1500 gallons per minute each.

feed

pumps are

four in number.

system requires a total of of the yard being on the

six

pumps, part

vacuum steam

heat-

ing plan, the remainder on the gravity return plan.

Thus

sixteen

pumps

large

quired to maintain the yard

are

For

life.

re-

electric

power there are seven steam-driven generators

and two subsidiary motor generator

sets,

the total capacity in kilowatts being 1120.

The power cember

it

required varies greatly,

in

De-

120,000 kilowatt hours and in

is

This variation

July 60,000 kilowatt hours. is

—

due to the service being mainly a lighting

service,

with a large proportion of the midship-

men absent on practice cruises in the summer. The water supply

is

utmost import-

of the

ance, and, both in respect to its sufficiency,

the Naval

its

Academy has water

equal to the best in the world.

active but

mately

in is

six

use,

There are

Academy, two

of

while one small well

is

three artesian wells in the

which are

purity and

not required; they are approxi-

hundred

feet

in

depth.

The

Grounds and Buildings water

is

forced

by pneumatic

lift

297

from the

wells into the nearby underground reservoirs

of a capacity of 2,400,000 gallons, 450,000 gallons being supplied daily

From

by each

the reservoir the water runs

to the fresh- water

pumps

in the

well.

by gravity

power plant,

which, at a pressure of seventy pounds per

square inch, force ten carbon

filters

The system salt

it

through three sand and

into the supply mains.

of fire hydrants calls for

and fresh water.

There are sixteen of

the former and ten of the latter. sure in time of use

is

pounds per square

both

The

pres-

one hundred and seventy

inch.

The Naval Academy is thus self -maintained in a manner similar to the Navy's industrial yards and plants.

On

the same

flat

peninsula with the power

plant are located a store house, a shop building,

and the

Officer.

offices of

Pay occupied by the

the Supply and

The shop building is

workshops and paintshops of the repair and maintenance force of the yard, comprising carpenters, plumbers, steam-fitters, painters, etc.

Academy

298 Life at U. S. Naval

At the edge

of

Worden

Field are the

two

old frame houses that house the racing shells of the

Naval Academy crews.

Beyond Dorsey Creek connected to the Academy by an ornamental concrete bridge of substantial structure, are the cemetery,

and the handsome

marine barracks,

the

modern

buildings of the hospital with its

quarters for officers and for nurses. Several

monuments

in the

grounds serve

the midshipmen as object lessons of the

deeds of heroism, victory, and

duty performed by various

sacrifice to

officers of

the

Navy, and thus stimulate patriotism and a pride in their profession.

The beauty is

of the

—

a beautiful place

smooth green lawns, efforts to save

—and

Naval Academy lies

its fine

its

steep bluffs,

combine to make

it

it

its

— made—and

big trees

which are being

in the blue waters of the

with

primarily in

^great

bay and the Severn

all

of

which features

one of the most attractive

spots in this world of curs.

CHAPTER XV THE ENSIGN "

Men mean

more than guns in

ships'' — Paul Jones.

The

the rating of

midsliipman, whose work, play, and

surroundings have been traced in this book, as the end of his four years draws nearer,

becomes more and more impatient to have the days speed by, the

and June Week

examinations over,

final

present.

The

routine has

been unrelenting and, though he has enjoyed his

academic

life,

he longs for the

still

in-

creased freedom that he will have as a com-

missioned

oflScer,

and

can apply in practice

from study and

On Friday

of

for the time all

when he

that he has learned

drill.

June Week, at ten

morning, the midshipman 299

is

in the

graduated with

300 Life at U. S. Naval

Academy

the awarding of his diploma

by the Secretary

of the

Navy, or even by the President

United States.

of the

Stirring patriotic addresses

from the Secretary or President, as the case

may

be,

and from one

who compose

of the

prominent men

the Board of Visitors,^ com-

plete the exercises,

and the midshipman, now

an ensign, makes

his final preparation for

leaving the ever,

Academy.

he takes part with his

dance on the armory his

Prior thereto,

floor,

class in a

throwing away

midshipman's cap and singing,

rivers,

no

more

rivers

evening at the dance

—

to

the graduate dons for the

"No more

cross."

June Ball

given in his honour by the

new

first

The composition

Navy

That

—which first

with

its

is

class,

time the

evening dress of the commissioned of the United States

howsnake

full

officer

broad

Board of Visitors has varied By the Naval Appropriation Act of 19 16, this Board is composed of seven persons appointed by the President, two Senators, three Members of the House of Representatives, and the chairmen of the Committees on Naval Affairs of the Senate and the House, the last two being ex-officio members of the '

of the

greatly from time to time.

Board.

I

The Ensign

301

ensign's stripe, which at that time seems to

him

give life

greater pride than anything his

had held

before.

The law provides

that midshipmen

upon

graduation shall be commissioned ensigns

Navy or shall be assigned by the Secreof the Navy to fiU vacancies in the

in the

tary

lowest commissioned grades of the Marine or the Staff Corps of the Navy.

In accord-

ance with this law ten midshipmen of the class graduating in June,

191 5, were

com-

missioned second lieutenants in the Marine Corps.

Thus

no appointments direct

far

have been made to the Pay Corps, the only other corps to which graduates woiild logically be appointed.

This graduating class of 1915 comprised

244 members upon entrance.

Upon gradua-

tion there remained but 180

members, and,

out of this number, ten received commissions in the

Marine Corps while seven were

turned to

civil life

qualifications.

244

because of physical

Thus out

midshipmen

in

the

of

the

class

the

redis-

original

Navy

302 Life at U. S. Naval obtained

1

Academy

This 67 per cent, com-

63 ensigns. ^

missioned of those entering

is

about the aver-

age output of the Academy. of absence that varies from

After leave

two weeks to

one month the graduate reports for duty to the vessel to which he has been assigned.

Sometimes an ensign

directed to report to

is

the Pacific Coast, but generally of late years the assignment

is

to a vessel of the battle-

ship or destroyer squadrons at the base, Narragansett Bay.

The

summer

ensign

is

soon

given his particular station as a part of the organization that

Navy

makes the

efficient fighting

vessels of our

machines.

This

sta-

tion will be that of a junior division officer in a turret or intermediate gun, the torpedo, fire ^

control,

The

class of

or navigator's division, or in midshipmen that graduated on June 2, At graduation it num-

1916, entered with 265 members.

bered 177, and after graduation 3 resigned, 6 were placed under observation for three months in the hope that they might, under special treatment, overcome disqualifying physical defects, 6 were commissioned as second lieutenants

Marine Corps, and 162 received commissions as enNavy. The percentages for this class are thus 67 for completing the course, and 61 for the ensigns received by the line of the Navy.

in the

signs in the line of the

The Ensign

303

one of the three divisions of the engineering department.

With graduation from the Academy has come no real let down in work for the former midshipman, now the ensign; but instead, hard work, consuming many hours day and night, for he

and

in the

must win a place

in the

Navy

esteem of his fellow officers, a place

by the hardest and

that can be gained only

most conscientious service that can be given.

Advancement

in grade

comes

early, for, in

but three years after graduation, he becomes a lieutenant (junior grade), a position and

rank that he

He

will retain

must pass a long

a

much

written

longer time. professional

examination as well as a rigid physical examination before any advancement.

Shorter

physical examinations given each year serve

to keep tion.

him

in touch with his physical condi-

His pay

financial worry,

is sufficient

and by

to keep

him from

offering such a stipend

the country shows that

it

expects the major

part of his time to be spent upon improving himself in the duties of his profession.

The

Academy

304 Life at U. S. Naval

amounts to $1870 per

salary at sea

year,

which, three years after the date of the recipient's graduation

his is

in

from the Academy, upon

promotion to a Heutenancy (jimior grade)

What

raised to $2200 per year.

pay a day

a jump

after graduation brings,

$600

to $1870 per year!

The Navy watches the officer's career by means of reports made by his

closely

seniors every six months.

These reports of

"fitness" cover every detail of the officer's character, industry,

and

ability.

They form

the guide for the future assignments

and

preferments and act as an incentive to every officer for the self in his

constant improvement of him-

profession in the opinion of his

fellow officers.

If

he

ever to

is

coveted four-starred blue his level best at all times

The

flag,

and

win the

he must do

in all positions.

delight of doing things rather than of

studying

how they ought

dry text-books

is

very

to be done from

real,

and the young

ensign finds that his profession

is

an

interest-

ing one, quite free from the sameness that

The Ensign

305

many of the vocations of civilian life. While he may feel that, being just from the Academy, he knows much more than officers on board ship, who may be a little attaches to so

rusty in the theory of gunnery or machinery, yet he

is

shortly convinced that his freshly

acquired knowledge

is

not as ready of applica-

tion as

it

is

in the

hands of the experienced

officers

with

whom

he

is

associated.

many ways and

has the advantage of them in

be able to

will

of efficiency

assist

Yet he

and become a promoter

and happiness,

if

he but applies

the learning he has acquired while at the

The young

Naval Academy.

officer

at once that difficult problem, the of

men.

To

solve

it

faces

handHng

successfully he

must

apply the principles taught at the Academy.

He remembers

that these

succinctly stated as "the

an

officer are

control,

principles

first

attributes of

good manners, coolness,

and that

leadership,

were

an

self-

essential, is

based fundamentally on proved superiority.

The

officer

times."

must be

first in

everything at

all

Academy

3o6 Life at U. S. Naval

The

must ever guard

ensign feels that he

the sacred laws of naval discipline that have

been taught him so carefully both by precept

and by example at Annapolis, and that he

must prevent any

therewith.

trifling

the Navy's sheet anchor, and

if

ever

the lack of this discipline will be the

and with

ruin,

it

It is lost,

Navy's

the ruin of our nation.

complete loyalty and good feeling that

between the

exists

maintained at

The young

all

officers

hazards.

officer

must

The now

and men must be

^

cultivate the valu-

who stated comparatively few men from

able habit of Admiral Farragut,

"there

whom

are

one could not learn something and

that a naval officer should always be adding to his knowledge;

more

useful

a naval

it

will enable

some day;

officer

it is

him

to be

hard to say what

might not have to do."

Far-

ragut never lost sight of this duty of professional acquirement.

He

observed every

harbour visited with regard to ' Adapted from Rear Admiral from the Fleet, p. 464.

its

defence

Cradock's

Whispers

AT ELEMENTARY TARGET PRACTICE

The Ensign by

sea or land.

lected

307

This habit has been neg-

by some great men and always

when

Earl St. Vincent,

their regret.

to

plan-

ning an attack upon Brest, said to his secretary:

"Had

Captain Jervis (meaning himself)

surveyed Brest when he visited 1800 Lord

in

St.

it

in 1774,

Vincent would not have

been in want of information."

The

futiire offers to the

in opportunities for

graduates

much

improving the service.

The guns in use are becoming bigger year by year, but the science of metallurgy is already strained to the breaking point to

produce

steel forgings of requisite

and strength

for

such guns.

uniformity

Masters of

gun design are needed, and these gun designers

must come from the graduates

Naval Academy.

If one's specialty

of the

be not

ordnance, there are a sufficiency of other

branches of the naval profession available for

minds that are capable of delivering

results.

art

Marine engineering

is

not a finished

by any means and improvements

propelling machinery, in the

in

power supply,

3o8 Life at U. S. Naval in gas engines,

and the

Academy needed as

like are as

they are in ordnance and gunnery.

As has

been noted in the chapter on postgraduate schooling,

no

selections

made

are

the

for

construction corps until the class has been at sea at least a year

who izes

desires

in

and a

The ensign

half.

a postgraduate course special-

ordnance and engineering and

is

selected for these courses after three years

As the

of sea experience.

officer

grows older

in his profession, the necessity for the other

postgraduate education,

that

and tactics, given at the Naval at Newport, R.

I.,

strategy

in

War

College

becomes more and more

apparent, and accordingly he spends one year at least there in study that gives

him the

broadened view that commanders of squadrons must have.

The training in international law and diplomacy that is offered by the academic course finds its

everyday application even more

quently in the case of the boats and of

light

cruisers

officers of

fre-

our gun-

than in the case

the battleship commanders.

The

light

The Ensign commander's

cruiser is

a

difficult

Trying

309

role in foreign waters

one both in peace and in war.

problems that involve inter-

political

national relations constantly arise and he

must

them immediately and

settle

alone,

basing his decisions upon the law and prece-

dents

he has learned at Annapolis.

that

Naval

officers

peace

have

in

many

handle, and for tion of the all

this,

difficult

situations

to

the many-sided educa-

Academy and

of the cruising in

parts of the world, with the broadening

influence that

big

their calling to maintain

men

comes from contact with the

of the nations of the world, should

eminently

fit

History

them.

shows how

well this duty has been done in the past

and

the news of the present day indicates that

Domingo being conducted on the plan that makes contentment and peace. The Samoan

affairs in

are for

Nicaragua, Haiti, and San

and Boxer troubles the

Navy

of recent date

at the front in taking

showed

prompt and

correct initiative with respect to the prob-

lems presented.

The

record of the multi-

Academy

3IO Life at U. S. Naval

tudinous situations that have arisen in both

peace and war iarity with

it

is

an interesting one and famil-

makes the ensign ambitious

to continue the example set of the

him by

officers

Navy.

The Naval Academy

course

furnishes

the young officer with the viewpoint of an

educated

man and

with the general wide

scope of information necessary for the serving

man

with the complicated mechanisms

of vessels of the

Navy.

The ground work

in all the various sciences

he has, together

with an appreciation of the obstacles that

difficulties

and

must be overcome

in order to

What

ever duty

reach any development.

he has to perform, his education has been sufficient to give

him the

start

and to indicate

him where he can search out the Courageous men and men of great to

details.

ability

as seamen and with the requisite physical

health and endurance can doubtless be found

among

the personnel of our

all

too small

merchant marine, but, without the education of the

Naval Academy, such men

will

be

'»''

»'

^ I

i'-j^.m«<«i

M'

b

The Ensign

311

modem

utterly lost on board the intricate

The

ship-of-war.

sense of

and the

realiza-

tion of the responsibility of the claims

and the duties

upon

of those chosen as leaders,

with the ideas of the organization and the discipline of a ship of the line that is necessary

to prevent

such a vessel from becoming a

mass of steel, wood, and brass, can come only from the years spent in imbibing

helpless

the teachings

and

discipline of the

Naval

Academy and of the practice cruises. The Academy has had many setbacks in its lifetime but thus far has survived them all,

and the

that

it

is

belief is

now a

of our national

permanent

apparently well founded

recognized, necessary part

and as such

life

The

part.

institution

easy task in starting, and years of academic

its

be a

had no

seventy-one

have not been spent

life

cruising under all

will

plain

sail

and

in

stunsails

to a favouring wind, but too often in cruising

under reefed

topsails,

in weathering

adverse gales directed at

by many prominent

its

people.

many

very existence

That Farragut

— 312 Life at U. S. Naval and Porter

Academy

in advocating the establishment

and wiser than

of this school were wise,

by the careers Academy to whom

their

time, has been proven

of the

graduates of this

is

due

of

the

the

increased

consistent

ships,

men, and guns

efficiency

of our

Navy.

For the

country to be prepared to maintain an honourable place

it

is

indeed necessary that the

school should continue and should educate

men fleets

capable of handling as

well

as

of

men and

designing

ships

and

ordnance,

machinery, and ships. " Whatever

new

appliances, whatever

means

of mutual destruction science supplies, the lesson

taught by the story of all naval war will remain true. Victory will depend not on elaborate mechanical structures and appliances, but on the men, and will be the reward for long training, iron discipline, calm enduring courage, and the leadership that can inspire confidence, command, self-sacrificing obedience, divine an enemy's plans, and decide swiftly and resolutely on the way in which they are to be frustrated." Hale.

The mission of the United States Naval Academy and of the midshipman's "Life at

The the U. S. Naval

Ensiofn

Academy,"

313

is

then to produce

officers of the caHbre that will

win the victory

in the final test of

war through

knowledge and their success

their

in training

of the fleet to the required standard of

own men men

second to none in the world. "

From knowledge comes command

of the sea.

r ADMIRAL

S

FLAG

THE GOAL OF THE NAVAL OFFICER

"

>H

^

Appendix ,4.

I

315

3i6

Appendix

I

Appendix •"•

.2 uxil

c

« Boil

«

§ [cul

I

317

3i8

Appendix

I

Appendix

I

319

Appendix

320

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a

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Appendix

1

321

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I Appendix

322

Q t>

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Appendix

r?

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323

Appendix

324

o

I

APPENDIX

II

REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE ADMISSION OF CANDIDATES INTO THE NAVAL ACADEMY AS MIDSHIPMEN GENERAL REMARKS There being no provision whatever

1.

ment

for the

pay-

of the travelling expenses of rejected candidates for

admission, no candidate should

fail

to provide himself in

advance with the means of returning home, in case of his rejection before either of the examining boards, as otherwise he may be put to considerable inconvenience.' 2.

It is suggested to all candidates for

Naval Academy,

admission to the

that, before leaving their places of resi-

dence for Annapolis, they should cause themselves to be thoroughly examined by a competent physician, particularly regarding eyesight, hearing, and heart trouble; and by

a teacher or instructor in good standing. A defect such as varicocele, which is ordinarily removable by operation, should be remedied prior to appearing at the Naval Academy for physical examination. By such an examination

any

serious

physical

disqualification

or

deficiency

in

mental preparation would be revealed, and the candidate probably spared the expense and trouble of a useless journey and the mortification of rejection. It should be understood that the informal examination herein recom'

Note by Author.

Special attention

is

directed to

the entrance deposit of $300 required of every midshipman, P- 348-

325

Appendix

326

II

mended

is solely for the convenience and benefit of the candidate himself, and can in no manner aflfect the decision

of the examining boards at Annapolis.

A sound body and constitution, suitable preparation, 3. good natural capacity, an aptitude for study, industrious habits, perseverance, an obedient and orderly disposition, and a correct moral deportment are such essential qualifications that candidates knowingly deficient in any of these respects should not, as

many

and and the Naval

do, subject themselves

their friends to the chances of future mortification

disappointment by accepting appointments at Academy and entering on a career which they can not successfully pursue. 4.

The

selection of candidates,

by competitive exami-

nation or otherwise, for nomination from any congressional district, is entirely in

entitled

to

the hands of the

the appointment, and

Member of Congress all

applications for

appointment or inquiries relative to competitive examinations should be addressed to the Congressman representing the congressional district in which the vacancy exists. Copies of the entrance regulations showing a syllabus of the first year's work at the Naval Academy and specimen examination questions may be obtained on application to the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, or to the Superintendent of the Naval Academy; and as soon as nominated a copy of each of these publications will be forwarded direct to each candidate in order that he may spend his time profitably at his local school, and be better prepared to pursue his course at the Naval Academy successfully. 5.

ments

Special attention is called to the physical requireof candidates, pp.

332 and 333.

NOMINATION 6.

The students

midshipmen.

at the Naval

Academy

are styled

Appendix 7.

327

II

Three midshipmen are allowed

for

each Senator,

Representative, and Delegate in Congress, two for the District of Columbia, and fifteen appointed each year from the United States at large. The appointments from the District of Columbia and fifteen each year at large are made by the President. It is the custom of Presidents to give the appointments of midshipmen at large to the sons of oflBcers of the Army and Navy for the reason that officers, owing to the nature of their duties, are usually not in a position to establish permanent residence. The vacancies from the District of Columbia are filled by competitive examination of candidates residing in the District. The selection of candidates, by competitive examination or otherwise, for nomination for vacancies in the quota of Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress is entirely in the hands of each Senator, Representative, and Delegate in Congress having a vacancy; and all apphcations for appointments or inquiries relative to competitive examinations should be addressed

accordingly. 8.

The law authorizes the appointment

of twenty-five

men

each year to be selected as a result of a competitive examination of enlisted men of the Navy and

enlisted

Marine Corps who have been in the service at least one year and who are under twenty years of age by August 15th of the year it is desired to enter. The mental and physical requirements for these candidates are the same as for other candidates for midshipmen. The competitive examination of these enhsted men is held on the third Tuesday in April of each year and is the regular examination given to candidates nominated for vacancies for midshipmen.

One midshipman is allowed from Porto Rico, who 9. must be a native of that island. The appointment is made by the President on the recommendation of the governor of Porto Rico. One midshipman for each class

Appendix

328 is

II

allowed from the Philippine Islands upon the appointof the Governor General.

ment 10.

The

course for midshipmen

is

four years.

Exami-

nations on the ground covered are held at the end of each

During the summer, midshipmen of the and third classes go to sea for about three

academic term. first,

second,

months. 11.

Midshipmen

after

graduation are commissioned

and occasionally to fill vacancies in the Marine Corps and in certain of the staff corps of the Navy. as ensigns in the Navy,

12.

"Hereafter the Secretary of the

Navy

shall, as

soon as possible after the ist day of June of each year preceding the graduation of midshipmen in the succeeding year, notify in writing each Senator, Representative, and Delegate in Congress of any vacancy that will exist at the Naval Academy because of such graduation, or that

may

occur for other reasons, and which he shall be en-

titled to

fill

by nomination of a candidate and one or more The nomination of a candidate and

alternates therefor.

fill said vacancy shaU be made upon the recommendation of the Senator, Representative, or Delegate, if said recommendation is made by the 4th day of March of the year following that in which said notice in writing is given, but if it is not made by that

alternate or alternates to

time the Secretary of the Navy shall fill the vacancy by appointment of an actual resident of the State, congressional district, or Territory, as the case

the vacancy will exist,

who

shall

may

have been

be, in

which

for at least

two years immediately preceding the date of his appointment an actual and bona-fide resident of the State, congressional district, or Territory, in which the vacancy will exist and of the legal qualification under the law as now provided. In cases where by reason of a vacancy in the membership of the Senate or House of Representatives, or by the death or declination of a candidate for

—

Appendix

II

329

admission to the Academy, there occurs or is about to occur at the Academy a vacancy for any State, district, or Territory that can not be filled by nomination as herein provided, the same may be filled as soon thereafter and before the final entrance examination for the year as the Secretary of the

June

Navy may

determine."

{Act approved

2Q, IQ06.)

13.

Candidates

for Territories,

and

allowed

for

congressional

for the District of

districts,

Columbia must be

actual residents of the districts or Territories, respectively,

from which they are nominated. 14.

All candidates must, at the time of their examina-

tion for admission, be between the ages of i6

A

years.

candidate

is

day he becomes 16 and

is

and 20 examination on the ineligible on the day he becomes

eligible for

20 years of age.

EXAMINATION 15.

shall he

"All candidates for admission into the Academy examined according to such regulations and at such

stated times as the Secretary of the

Navy may

prescribe.

Candidates rejected at such examinations shall not hare the privilege of another examination for admission class unless

recommended by

to

the

same

the board of examiners,"

—

(Rev. Stat., § 75/5.) 16. When any candidate who has been nominated upon the recommendation of a Senator, Member, or Delegate of the House of Representatives is found, upon

examination, to be physically or mentally disqualified for admission, the Senator, Member, or Delegate shall be notified to recommend another candidate, who shall be examined according to the provisions of the preceding section. 17.

Beginning with the year 1913, but two examina-

tions for admission of

midshipmen to the Naval Academy

Appendix

330

II

be held each year, as follows: The first examination Tuesday in February, the second on the third Tuesday in April, under the supervision of the Civil Service Commission, at four hundred and eight points, covering the entire country, and candidates may select their place for examination from these points. will

to be held on the third

who

All those qualifying mentally

are entitled to appointbe notified by the Superintendent of the Naval Academy when to report at the academy for physical examination, and if physically quaUfied will be appointed. Candidates may be examined at any of the places at which examinations are held. Senators and Representatives are requested, when designating their nominees to give the place at which it is desired they should be examined. Alternates are given the privilege ofj reporting 1 8. for mental examinations at the same time with the

ment

in order of

nomination

will

principal. 19.

No

Tuesday

examination

in April.

The

will

be held later than the third

large

number

of

midshipmen to

be instructed and drilled makes this rule necessary,"and it is to the great advantage of the new midshipmen themselves.

The summer months

are utilized in preliminary

and drills, such as handling boats under oars and sails, and in seamanship, gunnery, and infantry drills. These practical exercises instruction in professional branches

form excellent groundwork for the academic course. 20. The examination papers used in all examinations are prepared at the Naval Academy and the examinations of candidates are finally passed upon by the academic board. No candidate shall be admitted unless, in the opinion of the academic board, he shows the requisite mental qualifications. 21. Under the law, candidates failing to pass the entrance examination can not be allowed another examination

Appendix /or admission

to the

same

II

class unless

331

recommended for

re-

examination by the academic board. 22. Candidates who have successfully passed the entrance examination in a previous year shaU not be required to take another mental examination for admission, in the event of reappointment.

The Civil Service Commission merely conducts 23. the examination of candidates whose names have been furnished by the Navy Department. All correspondence relative to the nomination and examination of candidates should be addressed to the Bureau of Navigation, Department, Washington, D. C. 24.

Candidates

will

Navy

be required to enter the academy

immediately after passing the prescribed mental and physical examinations, or at such times as the Secretary of the

Navy may No 25.

designate. leaves of absence will be granted to

midshipmen

of the fourth class.

Candidates will be examined physically at the 26. Naval Academy by a board composed of three medical officers of the Navy, whose decision will be final. Physical examinations will habitually be held at the following times:

For candidates mentally examined

in February, April,

or in a previous year, at a date designated by the Super-

who will inform each candidate when to present himself for physical examination. The usual date for the physical examination is the intendent of the Naval Academy,

first

week in June of each year.

MORAL REQUIREMENTS 27.

No

Candidates must be of good moral character.

who has been dismissed for "inaptitude" in accordance with the act of Congress approved April Q, igo6, candidate

shall be reappointed or allowed to re-enter the

Naval Academy.

—

.

Appendix

332

:

II

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Candidates are

28.

required

to

be of good moral

and

character, physically sound, well formed,

of robust

constitution.

Any one

29.

of the following conditions will be sufiS-

cient to cause the rejection of a candidate, viz.

Feeble constitution, inherited or acquired.

(a)

Retarded development. (c) Impaired general health. (d) Decided cachexia, diathesis, or predisposition; anaemia, from malaria or from intestinal parasites, as (b)

hookworm.

Any

(e)

disease,

would impair

deformity, or result of injury that

efficiency;

such as

(m)

Weak

(eb)

Cutaneous or communicable disease. Unnatural curvature of the spine,

(ec)

or disordered intellect.

torticollis,

or

other deformity (ed)

Inefficiency of either of the extremities or large

from any cause.

articulations

Epilepsy or other convulsions within five years.

(ef)

Impaired vision, disease of the organs of vision,

(/)

imperfect colour sense; visual acuteness must be normal, i-

There

f§ for each eye without the aid of glasses. no deviation from this standard.

e.,

shall be

Impaired hearing or disease of either

(g)

ear.

The

organs of hearing, both the conductive apparatus (outer and middle ear) and the percipient apparatus (internal ear),

must be

free

from disease.

In testing the hearing of

the candidate, the voice, the ticking of a watch, and,

if

practicable, Politzer's acoumeter shall be employed.

The

voice

is

a more reliable method of determining the

acuteness of hearing than the ticking of an ordinary watch, as

it

allows for variations in hearing, with the modifica-

tions produced

by changes

in pitch

and

tone.

Hearing

Appendix

II

333

must be normally acute to the spoken and whispered voice. In examining the acuteness of the hearing with the voice, one ear of the candidate should be closed while the other ear is being examined, and his eyes should be covered to prevent lip reading. The

in each ear

ticking of

an ordinary watch should be heard a distance

of forty inches. (h) Chronic nasal catarrh, ozaena, polypi, or great enlargement of the tonsils. (i) Impediment of speech to such an extent as to impair efficiency in the performance of duty. (k) Disease of heart or lungs or decided indications of

liability to cardiac or (/)

pulmonary

affections.

Hernia, complete or incomplete, and undescended

testis.

(w) Varicocele, sarcocele, hydrocele, stricture,

fistula,

heemorrhoids, or varicose veins of lower Hmbs.

Phimosis and diseases of the genito-urinary organs. Ingrowing nails, bunions, cross or hammer toes, flat feet or other deformity of feet. unsound. (p) Loss of many teeth, or teeth generally There Marked overbite, or lack of occlusion of jaws. should be at least eight opposing molars, two on each side in each jaw. All defective teeth should have permanent (n) (0)

filUngs.

Much

time can be saved by previous attention

to this requirement. 30.

Attention will also be paid to the stature of the

candidate, and no one manifestly vmder size for his age The height of candidates will be received at the academy. for admission shall not

be

less

than 5

feet 2 inches

between

the ages of 16 and 18 years, and not less than 5 feet 4 mches between the ages of 18 and 20 years; and the mini-

mum

weight at 16 years of age shall be III pounds, with an increase of not less than 3 pounds for each additional year or fraction of a year over one half. Any marked deviation in the height and weight relative to the age of

Appendix

334 a candidate

will

add materially

II

to the consideration for

rejection.

Candidates must be unmarried, and any midshipshall marry, or who shall be found to be married,

31.

man who

before his final graduation, shall be dismissed from the service.

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS Candidates will be examined mentally in punctuaEnglish grammar, geography. United States history, arithmetic, algebra through quadratic equations, and plane geometry (five books of Chauvenet's geometry or equivalent). Deficiency in any one of these subjects may be sufficient to insure the rejection of the 32.

tion,

spelling,

candidate.

Maximum mark

4.00;

passing

from colleges and high schools

mark

2.50.

not be accepted in lieu of entrance examinations. All candidates must take the prescribed mental and physical examinations. Certificates

will

GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE MENTAL EXAMINATION

Reading and Writing.

—

Candidates must be and with proper accent and emphasis, and to write legibly, neatly, and rapidly. Spelling. They must be able to write, from 34. dictation, a list of not more than 100 selected words, or paragraphs from standard pieces of English literature, both prose and poetry, sufficient in number to test fully 33.

able to read understandingly,

—

The spelling throughtheir qualifications in this branch. out the examination will be considered in marking the papers. The academic board are instructed not to reject a candidate whose only deficiency is in spelling when the mark therefor is above a certain figure, to be fixed by the board, subject to the revision of the department. Punctuation and Capitals. They must be 35. familiar with the rules for punctuation and for the use of

—

Appendix

II

335

In order to test their knowledge, sentences may be given for correction. Punctuation and the use of capitals throughout the examination will be considered capitals.

marking papers.

in

36.

Grammar.

— Candidates

familiarity with English

must exhibit thorough grammar; they must be able to

analyze and parse any sentence given, showing clearly the relations between the different parts of speech, and giving the rules governing those relations. predicate in the sentence

and

must be

The

subject and

given, with modifiers

and kind, case, voice, number, person, degree of comparison, etc., as the case may be, of each word, and its relation to other words in the sentence. They must be able to define the terms used in grammar a number of which maybe given as a test of their knowledge. Sentences containing grammatical mistakes may be (if

any),

mood,

also the part of speech,

tense,

given for correction.

A

composition on one of three subjects will be required. grammars used in different parts of

Since the school

the country vary certain

among themselves

in their treatment of

words, an answer approved

good repute

by any grammar

be accepted. Geography. Candidates will be required to 37. pass a satisfactory examination in descriptive geography^ Questions will be given particularly of our own country. under the following heads: The definitions of latitude and longitude (including problems with regard to differences of time between places); the zones; the grand divisions of of

will

—

land and water

;

the character of coast lines the climate ;

of different parts of the United States; trade winds; the

direction

and position

of important

mountain chains and

the locaUty of the higher peaks; the position and course of the principal rivers, their tributaries, and the bodies of

water into which they flow; the position of important seas, bays, gulfs,

and arms

of the sea; the position of

Appendix

336

II

independent States, their boundaries and capital

cities;

the position and direction of great peninsulas and the situation

important and prominent

of

capes,

straits,

sounds, channels, and the most important canals; great

and inland seas; position and political connection of important islands and colonial possessions; location of cities of historical, political, or commercial importance, attention being especially called to the rivers and bodies of water on which cities are situated; the course of a vessel in making a voyage between well-known ports. The candidate's knowledge of the geography of the United States can not be too full or specific on all the points Accurate knowledge will also be rereferred to above. quired of the position of the country with reference to other States, and with reference to latitude and longitude of the boundaries and relative position of the States and lakes

Territories, of the

name and

of other important cities

position of their capitals,

and

and towns.

The following named text -books are used in preparing examination questions: Maury's New Complete Geography; Complete Geography, by A. E. Fry; Natural Advanced

Redway and Hinman. United States History. The examination

Geography, by 38.

—

branch

in

concerning the early settlements in this country; the forms of government this

will include questions

in the colonies; the causes, leading events,

and

results of

wars; and prominent events in the history of our Govern-

ment since its foundation. The following named text-books are used

in preparing examination questions: A Student's History of the United States, by Edward Channing; The Students' American History, by D. H. Montgomery; A School History of the

by John Bach McMaster. The candidate will be required: To express In figures any whole, decimal, or mixed number; to write in words any given number; to perform with United States, 39.

Arithmetic.

—

Appendix

II

337

and accuracy the various operations of addition, and division of whole numbers, whether abstract or compoimd, and to use with facility the tables of money, weights, and measures in common use, including English money. To reduce compound numbers from one denomination to another, and to express them as decimals or fractions faciKty

subtraction, multiplication,

of a higher or lower denomination; to state the

number and the relation between the troy and avoirdupois povmds, and to reduce differences of time to differences of longitude, and vice versa. To define prime and composite ntmibers; to give the tests of divisibility by 3, 5, 9, ii, 25, and 125; to resolve numbers into their prime factors, and to find the least common multiple and the greatest common divisor of of cubic inches in a gallon

large as well as of small numbers.

To be familiar with all the processes of common and decimal fractions; to give clearly the reasons for such proand to be able to use the contracted methods of multipUcation and division given in the ordinary text-books cesses,

on arithmetic.

To

and proportion, and to solve problems and compound proportion. To solve problems involving the measurement of rectangular surfaces and of solids, to find the square roots and the cube roots of nimibers, and to solve simple problems under percentage, interest, and discount. define ratio

in simple

The candidates are required to possess such a thorough understanding of all the fundamental operations of arithmetic as

will

enable them to apply the various principles any complex problem that can be solved

to the solution of

by the methods

of arithmetic; in other words, they

must

possess such a complete knowledge of arithmetic as will

enable them to proceed at once to the higher branches of mathematics without further study of arithmetic.

The

required ground

is

completely covered by any one

Appendix

338

II

by G. High School Arithmetic, by Wentworth and Hill; Standard Arithmetic, by William J. Milne; Arithmetic in Theory and Practice, by J. Brook-

of the following text-books: Advanced Arithmetic,

A. Wentworth

(first

i6 chapters)

;

A

Smith. 40.

Algebra.

—The

examination in algebra will inupon the fundamental rules,

clude questions and problems factoring, greatest

common divisor,

least

algebraic fractions, equations of the

common multiple,

first

degree with one

more unknown quantities, simplification of expressions involving surds, and the solution and theory of quadratic equations, problems involving the formation of simple and quadratic equations, and the meaning and law of exponents, positive, negative, and fractional. The requirements are fully expressed in Wentworth 's College Algebra (Revised), first 14 chapters, or Wentworth 's Elementary Algebra, first 21 chapters; Milne's Academic Algebra, 324 or

pages. 41.

Geometry.

— In

geometry,

candidates

will

be

required to give accurate definitions of terms used in plane

geometry, to demonstrate any proposition of plane geometry as given in the ordinary text-books, and to solve simple geometrical problems, either by a construction or

by an application

of algebra.

Either of the following

text-books covers the ground required in geometry: Went-

worth and Hill's Plane and Solid Geometry (5 books); Robbin's Plane Geometry; Chauvenet's Geometry (5 books). The entrance examination used in April, 1916, 42. for the purpose of determining the mental quahfications of candidates for admission is quoted below in full.

i

Appendix

II

PROGRAM OF ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS Time

339

Appendix

340

The medians of an and 15 inches.

isosceles triangle are i8 inches, 15

Find the area of the

inches,

(a)

2.

II

triangle.

Prove that the sum of the three straight

lines

drawn from any point within a triangle to the three vertices is less than the sum and greater than half the sum of the three sides of the triangle. (b)

Two

sides of a parallelogram, 6 feet

an

include

length,

angle

of

45

and

8 feet in

Find

degrees.

its

area.

The

What

feet.

(c)

3.

The

Find

feet.

rhombus

side of a

square

are

its

is

5 feet

and

area

its

sides of a triangle are 102, 104,

is

12 >^

and 106

Also find the segments into which

its area.

the longest side

is

angles?

divided by the bisector of the angle

opposite. (b)

Prove that

if

any chord

is

drawn through a

point within a circle the product of the segments

is

fixed

con-

the segments of the longest chord are 3 and 12, what will be the segments of the shortest chord?

stant.

(o)

4.

are

If

On

the surface of a square of side a semicircles

drawn with each

side in turn as diameter.

Find the

area of each of the four lobes thus formed. (b)

The perimeter

of a polygon

is

p.

What

will

be

the perimeter of a similar polygon having twice the area?

The area

of a circle of radius a

centric circles.

5.

in

a

(a)

Find the

is

trisected

by two con-

radii of these circles.

Find the area of the regular octagon inscribed

circle of radius c.

(b) A square, an equilateral triangle, and a regular hexagon have the same perimeter, namely, 36 feet. Com-

pare their areas.

What

principle

is

here illustrated?

9

'

Appendix

II

341

Second Subject ALGEBRA [Time allowed: 3 hours] 1.

(a)

Reduce

to simplest terms:

(x^+io:c+2i) {xi—2j) (x*+gx^+8i) {b)

Extract the square root of y'+2yi

common

Find the greatest

—y^+J.

divisor of 4a:'— 3a:*— 24X—

and 8a;^— 2a;* — 53.V— 39. 2.

a train travels a miles in h hours, how go in i second? Solve the simultaneous equations (a)

If

many

feet does it (b)

i+I+I = 36,I+3_i = ,8,i+^+l = 20.

X

y

X

z

y

x

z

2>y

^z

(a) Two persons 14 miles apart, starting at the 3. time, will be together in 7 hours if they walk in the

direction,

and

and 20 minutes if they walk in Find their rates of walking.

in 2 hours

opposite directions. {b)

Solve the simultaneous equations {a

ia)

4.

same same

— b)

x-{-

{c+d)y = a, {a-\-b)x-\-{c—d)y = b.

Solve the equation

x-4

1

=—

x-2, 3 (6) A hall can be paved with 200 square tiles of a certain size; if each tile were i inch larger each way it would take 128 tiles. Find the length of the edge of a tile. (g)

5.

(2)

S olv e the e qua tions

(

i)

x^+2Vx'-^6x=2/^—6x,

V^r+2 + V^x + i=Vgx+7.

(b)

Solve the simultaneous equations x'-\-xy-\-2y^

=

'ji\

and

2x^-\-2xy-\-y* = 'JZ.

Appendix

342

II

Third Subject arithmetic [Time

allowed:

hours]

3

Mvdtiply each of the numbers 2.30259, 2.99573, .43429, obtaining products correct to the fifth decimal place. (6) Divide 63360 by 39.37 How many times does a wheel 2 feet in diameter revolve I.

(a)

and 3.40120 by

in rolling

i

mile?

Simplify

(a)

(ir

=3.1416.)

2

22

II

4

II

I

I

I

13

26

2

4

Using decimals, find the value of

-.

1

25

20

100

8

(b) The longitude of San Francisco is 122° 25' 45" W. and the longitude of Manila is 120° 57' 30" E. When it is 6 A.M. in San Francisco, what is the time in Manila?

3.

of

Find, correct to six places of decimals, the value

(a)

V2 — I V2 + 1 (b)

There are 231 cubic inches in a gallon.

Find, to the

nearest hundredth of an inch, the edge of a cubical receptacle holding

4.

I

gallon.

Find the simple interest on $3,200 at 4>^ pet

(a)

annum

for 2 years 7 months and 6 days. income from a 4>^ per cent, investment $1,200 a year. Find the amount of money invested. (b) If water weighs 62.4 pounds a cubic foot, and

cent, per

A man's

granite

is

2.6 times as heavy, find the

number

of tons in

is

if

a

Appendix block of granite 20 by 5 by 4 to a ton. (a)

5.

If

a nautical mile

343

allowing 2,240 pounds

1.15 statute miles,

and there

degree on a circle of longitude, statute rmles north of AnnapoUs (latitude

are 60 nautical miles in

how many

is

feet,

II

i

is Boston (latitude 42° 21' N.)? There are 3,800,000 square miles in Europe and a population of 437,000,000. Find the population per

38° 59' N.) (b)

square mile and the number of acres to each inhabitant.

Fourth Subject dictation exercise in spelling

The examiner will pronounce word if necessary.

repeating the

distinctly

each word,

Twenty minutes

are

allowed for this subject. 1.

aggravate

2. bicycle 3.

4. 5.

cemetery emigrate pursue

6. rental

21.

rhubarb

22. causal 23. achieve 24. irrelevant (iV-re/'e-ran/) 25. simulate 26. terminal

decency

7.

blamable

27.

8.

perforate

28. perfidy

9.

10.

sumptuous (sump'chu-us)

29.

pious

30.

pharmacy calumny {cal'utn-ni)

11. vaccinate

31. iUiterate

12. essence

32. already

13.

absence

33. disagreeable

14.

bureau

34.

embarrass

15. ecstasy {ec'sta-si)

35. grievous

16. liquefy

36. procedure

17. hazel 18.

beginning

37. blissful 38. sacrilegious (sac'ri-U'jus)

19. incessant

39. foreign

20. serenity {se-ren'i-ti)

40. gnarl

:

Appendix

344

II

Fifth Subject

GRAMMAR [Time allowed: 2 hours] (o)

1.

Define

(i)

phrase,

(2)

relative

pronoun,

(3)

infinitive, (4) analysis. (b) (c)

Write the principal parts of choose, bear, hew, show. Give the plural of terminus, court-martial, chimney,

spoonful. (d)

What

is

the possessive singular

of horse,

it,

fox,

father-in-law?

Analyze the following sentence and parse the under"He hath a heart as sound as a bell and his tongue is the clapper, for what his heart thinks his tongue 2.

scored words:

speaks." 3.

Explain and correct

all

errors

in

the following

sentences: (c)

We would have been glad to have given up our plans.

(b)

The mink

is

a timid animal and they are

difficult

to catch.

he

some

(c)

I think

(d)

The affair went on without me being aware of it. The President with his secretary are on the platform.

(e)

is

better.

(g)

Neither Keats nor Shelley use the word. Who do you think I am?

(A)

It

4.

Write a theme of at

(/)

on one

was John and me that passed you. least

one page (about 300 words)

of the following subjects

(a)

President Wilson's Pan-American policy.

(b)

The need

of military training in schools.

—

Educational fads Why I am not better prepared to pass my entrance examinations. (c)

(d)

Transportation in

my

State.

Appendix

II

345

Sixth Subject

geography [Time allowed: 2 hours] Define the following terms: (i) Crater; meridian; (3) delta; (4) peninsula; (5) isotherm; (6) (a)

1.

(2) lati-

tude; (7) GuJf Stream; (8) monsoon; (9) Arctic Circle; (10) steppe. (b)

Bound the

2.

(a)

following: (i) Kentucky; (2) Peru.

Fix the position of the following:

(i)

Riga;

(2)

Jaurez; (3) Saloniki; (4) Culebra; (5) Port au Prince; (6) Sulu; (7) Hilo; (8) El Paso; (9) Saginaw; (10) Nish. (b) Trace the course of the following rivers, telling where they rise, in what direction and through what countries they flow, and into what waters they empty:

(i) Vistula; (2) Nile; (3) (a)

3.

Ohio;

(4)

Euphrates.

State two of the chief products of each of the

following: (i)

Cuba;

(2)

Ohio;

(3) Australia;

(4)

South

CaroUna. (b)

Name

the principal products of the

soil

of the

United States that are affected by a blockade of Germany, and name the principal imports into the United States from Germany in peace times. 4.

the

Make a voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Seattle via Panama Canal, naming the waters passed tlirough,

four ports of

call,

and the countries along which you would

coast.

Seventh Subject united states history [Time allowed: 2 hours] I.

ries of

(a)

Summarize

in

one paragraph each, the discove-

two of the following explorers: Hudson;

the Cabots; de Soto.

La

Salle;

Appendix

34^

II

Describe briefly the settlement and early govern-

(b)

ment

of

Maryland.

To what

do we owe our success Give the reasons. (b) Explain the importance of the American naval victories on Lake Erie and Lake Champlain in the War (a)

2.

foreign country

in the Revolution?

of 1812.

(a)

3.

Write a short sketch of the

gut;

life

of one of the

James Monroe; Henry Clay; David G. Farra-

following:

Thomas A.

(&)

What was

4.

(a)

Edison. the compromise of 1820?

Of 1850?

Describe the Peninsular Campaign in the Civil

War. (b)

Name

four important American inventions since

the Civil War, and explain

why you

regard

them as

important.

ADMISSION

Candidates who pass the required examinations appointments as midshipmen, and be admitted as such to the Naval Academy. Each midshipman on admission will be required to sign articles by which he binds himself to serve in the United States Navy during the pleasure of the President of the United States (including his time of probation at the Naval Academy), unless sooner discharged. He will be required to certify on honour his exact age. The pay of a midshipman is $600 a year, com44. 43.

will receive

mencing at the date of his admission. Midshipmen will supply themselves, immediately 45. upon their admission, with the following articles, via..

. .

.. .

Appendix One white cap and anchor One dress jacket One blouse One pair dress trousers. One pair service trousers One overcoat One reefer One mackintosh One cap cover

Two

Two

parade cap

3.75

pair overshoes

.83

collars

white blouses pairs white trousers

.75

Wash

basin and pitcher

.90

One

pair

slippers

*One *One *One *One

.87

whisk coarse

.17

comb

9.60 4.00 1.20 8.00 4.00

*Blacking blacking *Nailbrush

brush

2.65

One hair pillow One rug One hair mattress One broom

1.15 3.

blue jerseys pair white shoes.

..

.

Three white hats

15

4.00 1.80 1.05

One

jackknife

.25

Two

lanyards

.24

Six sheets

3.90

.40

.

3.80 .18 .75

and .50 .50 .78

Name plate Two bedspreads One

4.32

.

Six pillowcases

2.40 1.60

4.80

1.75

2.40

pairs socks

One blue sweater

.30 .65

chiefs

*One pair suspenders Four suits pajamas *One toothbrush *Thread and needles

2.20

Twelve pairs drawers (summer) Twelve undershirts (summer) One hand glass

.13

box soap

pairs cuffs

*Eight towels *Shaving outfit

.

gymnasium

*Twelve white handker-

pair blankets

.

J 0.30

3.10

.25

.

pass book

Three stencils, ink, and brush

1.40 .07

pairs high shoes

One

347

hairbrush *Stationery

.18

Twelve Twelve

One

.24

mug

Eight white shirts

Two

11.50

soap box laundry book

Twelve

Two Two

26.98 12.18

pairs regulation leg-

gings

One One One One One One

$ 2.45 20.78 15.22 11.83 6.68

II

Two

.15

2.50

slop jar

i.oo

spatter cloths

i.oo .75

75 4.85 .35

Three khaki blouses. Four khaki shirts Four pair khaki trousers One khaki belt .

5.01

.

9.20 .

.17

One waste-paper basket. One trousers hanger .... coat hangers One strong box One pair ear protectors.

5. 00

.65

.30 .36

Si.ic

1.60 •

.20

.50

Two manuals

.83

One pair bathing trunks..

.15

One

.75

Three pairs white gloves

1.20

Hammock Two One

clews

clothes bags

.50

requisition book.

The

articles

.

1231.84

.40

.

marked

pair collar anchors.

*,

not being required to conform to

Appendix

34^

II

a standard pattern, may be brought by the midshipman from home, but all other articles must conform to the regulations, and must therefore be supplied by the storekeeper.

Each midshipman must, on admission, deposit

46.

with the pay

the

sum

which he

will

be

credited on the books of that officer, to be expended

by

officer

of $60, for

direction of the superintendent in the purchase of text-

books and other authorized articles besides those enumerated in the preceding article.

and the entrance deposit before a candidate can be received

All deposits for clothing

47. of

S60 must be

made

Academy. Checks for these deposits must not

into the 48. to the

order of the superintendent.

be made payable They should be made

own

order and be presented

payable to the candidate's to the

pay

officer of

the Naval

Academy

at the time of

deposit.

SUMMARY OF EXPENSES Deposit for clothing, etc Deposit for books, etc

$231.84 60.00 $291.84'

The value from

this

49.

of clothing

brought from home

is

to be deducted

amount.

Each midshipman

will

be paid, as soon as adjusted

by the Treasury Department, the amount expenses in travelling from his

home

of his actual

to the

Academy,

which he will deposit with the Midshipmen's Pay Officer to be credited to his account.

—

' Note by Author. This deposit should read $300.00. The value of clothing brought from home is deducted but

so, the credits for such clothing and for consequent excess deposit being placed on the pass book

only theoretically of the

midshipman and shown

in his

amount

available.

APPENDIX

III

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

—

Commander Buchanan. This officer, who so successstarted the Naval Academy and inaugurated so many fine administrative ideas and methods which have

fully

endured to the present day, deserves to have life

his eventful

chronicled in this book,

Franklin Buchanan was bom in Baltimore, Maryland, and entered the Navy as a midshipman, January

in 1800,

He proved himself an exceptionally able officer 28, 1815. and acquired a high reputation as a skilful, energetic, and His commands prior to 1845 included the Baltimore, the Peacock, the Mississippi, and the Vincennes.

systematic organizer.

In 1845 he was selected as a member of a Board to devise means for starting a Naval Academy, and, when the Naval Academy was founded at Annapolis, he was appointed Superintendent, in which capacity he served from September 3, 1845, to March 14, 1847. He proved himself a man of iron will, and maintained discipline in the student body recalled from sea with a strong hand so

that the success of the school was assured. An active man, he grew restless as the Mexican

War

continued and, beUeving the School securely planted and started on the road to success, he asked for dutj^ in the Gulf. In command of the Germantown he took part in the capture of Vera Cruz,

March

other engagements.

349

29, 1847,

and

in several

Appendix

350 In November,

1

851, he

altered the course at the

years with the

summer

He commanded

III

was a member of the Board that Naval Academy to one of four

practice cruises of three months.

the Susquehanna in the squadron of

Commodore M. C. Perry, who sailed from Norfolk, November 24, 1852, on that memorable cruise

ginia,

Vir-

that

opened Japan to foreigners. On July 13, 1853, at Kurihama, Uraga, Buchanan was the first " barbarian " ashore " to defile the soil of the holy country of Japan." '.

Buchanan became a captain in 1855 and in 1859 was of the Washington Navy Yard. On

made commandant

April 22, 1 86 1, he resigned, but finding that his State did not secede, he wrote the Secretary of the Navy requesting that his resignation be withdrawn and that he be restored to the Navy. His request was not granted and he was dismissed the service, entering the Confederate Navy in September, 1861. He reconstructed the Merrimac, scuttled at Norfolk Yard by Commodore McCauley and commanded it during the engagement with the Cum-

and Congress, on March 8, 1862, at Hampton Roads, Virginia, being so severely wounded that he did not take part in the fight with the Monitor the next day. His services to the Confederacy were now recognized by a commission as Admiral and senior officer of the Confederate Navy. In command of the ram Tennessee at the battle of Mobile Bay, August 5, 1864, he was wounded and captured. After the war he was president of the Maryland Agricultural College for some time, and later a life insurance agent in St. Louis. He died, May 11, 1874, in Talbot County, Maryland. berland

INDEX Academic Board, 82, 128, 166 Academic building, 290 Academy, Naval: work started on new, 285; completed, 285; cost of, 285; power plant, 296 bmldings and grounds, ;

278-298

Adams,

Fort, 20, 21

Admission: discussion, 29-54; oath of, 52; regulations governing, 325-348 Age, entrance: first required, 14; present required, 24 America, 21 Annapolis, description of town, 47-50 Appointments: laws, 30, 31; accepting, 32; obtaining, 33, 34 Argo, 215 Articles of War, 174

Asylum, Naval School, 8 Athletics: 23;

summer

contest, 77; description in general, of, 64, 175; contests, 175, 202;

199-214; officer in charge association, 200, 213 Auditoritun, 291 Aviation, 262

Badger, Captain C. J., 28 Balch, Rear Admiral G. B., 28 Ball, Jime, 234, 300 Bancroft, George, 9, 10, 11, 15, 290 Bancroft Hall, 80, 101-103; 196; dimensions and cost, 285-287 Baseball, 79, 205 Basketball, 207, 220 Battle stations, 253 Battleships, 234, 237, 242 Bible: classes in, 161; presentation of, 163 Biddle, U. S. S., 156

351

1

Index

352 Blake, Captain G.

S., 19, 20,

28

Board, Academic, 82, 128, 166 Board of Visitors, 282 members Boats, 75, 215-217, 235 Boston, school at, 4 Bowles, F. T., 259 Bowyer, Captain J. M., 28 Branch, Secretary, 4 Brownson, Captain W. H., 28 Bryan, Pay Inspector, 192 ;

Buchanan,

of,

300

Fraiiklin, 7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 28, 105, 127, 349,

350

Buildings, general description, 281-298 Burial, Math, and English, 229

Cadet: engineers, 23; midshipmen, 23; naval, 14, 23, 24 Calendar, 131 Candidate: definition, 29; coaching for entrance, 35; one examination per class, 39; arrival, 46; deposit required, 51, 52; oath, 52;

midshipman,

Cemetery, 298 Chapel or Church,

54.

79, 158, 159; 159, 171; description of, 293

Chaplain, early instruction by,

attendance required,

iv, 5,

23,

76, 100,

159,

160, 171

Chauvenet, William, Cheer leader, 219

8, 9, 10, 1

Choir, 79, 164 Civil War, 19, 239, 240 Class, 69; numbers in, 106 Clothing, required, 347; deposit for, 348 Coaling ship, 256 Coefficients: system, 127; table of, 129 College, War, 308 Commandant of Midshipmen, 96, 167, 237

Commander, midshipman, 217 Conduct: sheet, 94, 113; grades, 114; deficiency effect on multiple, 119 Constitution, U. S. S., 6, 19, 20, 21, 63 Construction Corps, 260, 262

in,

118;

Contests, regimental flag, 232 Cooper, Captain P. H., 28, 283 Cost, table board, 59 Council, postgraduate, 270 Course: length of, 18, 24; changes in, 25; present, 314-324 Cradock, Sir Christopher, 55, 199, 215, 258

Index Craven, Lieutenant T. T.,

7, 19,

353

239

Cruise: pleasure, 215; practice, started, 17, 18; Preble, 17; 234; during war, 21, 80, 239, 240; general description of, 237-258; organization, 245, routine, 250-256 Cup: athletic trophy, 213; Lysistrata, 257

Dahlgren, 7; hall, 285-288 Dairy, 193, 194, 195 Dances, 23, 220, 221, 223 Dancing instruction, 152 Debate, 76 Debts, forbidden, 64 Deficiency, conduct, 118; weekly, 112, 132; for term, 128, 130 Delaware, U. S. S., 123 Demerits, 11 6-1 19; function of, 168 Deposit, required upon entrance, 51, 52, 325, 348 Diplomacy, 308 Diplomas, 105 Discipline, 18; 75; 165-168; 306 Dramatic Club, 226 Dress parade, 231 Drill: artillery, 153; infantry, 73, 153, 187; seamanship, 74, 136, 150-152; periods for, 138, 139; small arm, 72; swimming, 73; physical or gymnasium, 180-186

DuPont, 7 Duty: midshipmen's, 89-94;

officer, 89;

squad, 89

Eberle, Captain E. W., 28 Efficiency, multiple for, 95 Electricity: laboratory for, 140; practical instruction in,

140-144; postgraduate, 260 Engineering, 23, 75; drills, 145-149; postgraduate, 260 English, 76, no, 137; entrance requirements, 334-336,

343-346 Enlisted men, entering academy, 34, 35 Ensign, 299; number from a class, 301; pay

of, 304 Entrance: age required, 24; details of, 44 Entrance deposit, 51,325, 348 Examinations, entrance: order of subjects, 38; where held, 39; best time to take, 39 questions, 40; how prepared, 40; ;

length, 41; conditions under which held, 41; spelling, 41; passing mark, 43; where held, 43; average records made, 43; percentage successful, 43; physical 44, 46; sample entrance, 339-346

Index

354

Examinations: during course, 121, 122; procedure, 124, 125; weight, 126; marking of papers, 132; swimming, 216;

handling boats, 216 Executive Department, 84, 85, 86, 96, 200

term work, 130 Farm, 195 Failure,

Farragut, Admiral, iv, 7, 29, 237, 306, 311 Fencing, 209 Fire control, 156, 254 Fitness reports, 304 Flagg, Ernest, 283 Football, 79, 202-205; scores, 204, 218-220 Foote, 7 Franklin, U. S. S., 63 French, 81, 122

Fullam, Captain W. F., 28 Funds, first appropriation, 15

Germantown, U. S. S., 15 Gibbons, Captain J. H., 28 Goat, Navy, 62, 219 Goldsborough, Commander L. M., 7, 18, 28 Golf, 218 Grades, conduct, 114 Graduation exercises: first, 18; diplomas, 25 Grounds, Academy, 278-281 Guerriere, U. S. S., school on board, 4 Gunnery, 154-156 Gymkhana, 227-229 Gymnasium, 75, 152; compulsory system, 176; 185, 187; meets, 208; dances in, 221 Halligan, Lieut. Comdr., 271 Handball, 187

Hazing, 25, 66, 97 Herbert, Secretary, 283 Holidays, 222

Honour, standard, 168, 172 Hops, 220, 221, 223 Hospital, 189 Illinois,

Infantry

U.

S. S.,

drill, 73,

243 78, 187

drills,

177-

Index

355

Instruction, practical, 137-157 Sherwood Hall, 292 Java, U. S. S., school, 4 Jones, John Paul, 85, 109, no, 154, 158, 294, 299 June week, 46, 47, 230, 233, 299

Lacrosse, 211 Lancaster, U. S. S., 63

Languages, 35, 36

Law, international, 308 Leadership, 92 Leave, 80, 97, 222, 223, 235, 257 Lessons, 108 Liberty, 116 Library, 290 Life insurance, 53

"Log, The," 224 Loyalty, 114 Luce, Rear Admiral S. B., Luce Hall, 285, 288

19,

250

"Lucky Bag," 225 McCormick, Medical Director, 190, 194 McDonald, J. E., the, 217 McNair, Rear Admiral F. V., 28 Macedonian, U. S. S., 21 Machine shop, 242 Mahan, Captain A. T., 158 Mahan Hall, 290 Marine Barracks, 298 Marine Corps, 301

Marine Engineering, 145-149, 261, 292, 307 Marion, U. S. S., 21 Marks: scale adopted, 16; method of, Masqueraders, 226, 233, 291 Massachusetts, U. S. S., 243 Mathematics, 37, 38, 229, 336-343 Matthews, Commodore E. O., 283 Maury, Lieutenant M. F., 4, 5

Maury

Hall, 291

Medical

officer,

Memorial

Mess

76

Hall, 287, 288 Hall, 62

105, 107; papers, 132

Index

356

Midshipmen: early appointments and education,

3; conduct, 4; nvxmber at opening of school, 12; number, academic year, 1915-1916, 13; Civil War, 19, 22; title abandoned, 23; title restored, 24; old time, 26; maximum possible number at Academy, 31; origin of title, 55, 56; ofiScers, 86-88; duties of, 90-94; number passing, 106; unsatisfactory, 112; number fall of 1916, 287; graduating; 302; percentage completing course, 302

Mines, 156 Minstrels, 23 Military Academy, i, 2 Missouri, U. S. S., 243, 244

Monuments, 298 Multiple, efficiency, 95; conduct, 119, 127-128 Musical, Midshipmen's, Clubs, 227, 291

Naval Academy: name adopted, history

of,

16; first organization, 16;

1-28

Naval Cadet: grade proposed,

14; age of entrance, 14; origin of title, 23 Nav^ School, first, 4; at Annapolis, 12-13; curriculum, 15; name abandoned, 16

Navy, when begun,

2,

3

Nelson, 86, 121

Newport, Academy there, 20-22 Nipsic, U. S. S., 63 Nulton, Captain, L. M., 167 Number, midshipmen: maximum allowed, 31; probable number, 31; comparative, by classes, 69; completing course, 302 Oath, entrance, 52-53 Ohio, U. S. S., 243-244 Ordnance and gunnery, 155-157 Ordnance; postgraduate, 260, 262; gun design, 307 Organization, of Academy: first, 16; present, 82-96 Ossipee, U. S. S., 63 Patriotism, 163-164 Pay, 58-59, 304 Parker, Commodore F. A., 28 Pay Corps, 301 Periods: summer, 75-76; study and recitation, 108-109; drill, 112

Index

357

Physical examinations: need for preliminary, 44; per cent. failing on entrance, 46; defects removable, 46; during course, 191; entrance requirements in detail, 332-333 Physical training, 175-186 Phythian, Captain R. L., 28 Plebe, 54, 59, 90 Plymouth, U. S. S., 19 Porter, Admiral D. D., 22, 23, 28, 199, 279, 312 Postgraduate education: 259-277; school established, 261; course, 262; need for, 266-268; council, 270; selection of officers for, 273; allotment of time, 275 Practice squadron, 80, 237, 240, 243 Prayers, daily, 162 Preble, U. S. S., 17

Preparatory schools, need for, 35 President: class, 172-173; of United States, 153, 300 Professors of mathematics, 9, 15 Promotion: blocked, 22; present, 303. Quarters: officers',

midshipmen's, 80, 281

101-103,

196,

Radio, 142, 143 Ramsay, Captain F. M., 28 Recitations, 103-108, 112 Reefer, 56 Regulations, 59, 168 Reina Mercedes, U. S. S., 72, 115 Religion, 158-165 Reports, 94, 99 Responsibility, 170-172 Riding, 217 Rifle range and practice, 69, 72, 78, 212 Ring, class, 229-230 Robert Center, 215 Rodgers, Lieutenant G. W., 20 Rodgers, Rear Admiral C. R. P., 20, 21, 28 Roommates, 65 Rooms: care of, 100; description of, 102-103 Routine, 66-67, 103-108, 112 Rowing, 206 Rules of road, 75 Saint Anne's church, 50 Saint John's college, 50

285-287;

Index

358 Sailing,

217

Sampson, Commander W. T., 28 Sands, Rear Admiral J. H., 28 Saniee, U. S. S., 70-72 Sayres, Governor, 282 Scholarship, grading, 105

Seamanship, 74, 78, 150-152 Secretary of the Navy, 4, 9, 10, 11, 15, 232, 300 Sections, 104, 106 Services, divine, 159-163 Severn, Fort: transfer, 10, 11; use, 22, 199, 278 Sick call, 188, 190 Sick quarters, 188 Simpson, Rear Admiral Edward, 13, 14 Small arms, 72, 78, 154 Society, 223 Somers, mutiny on, 7 Songs, 219 Spanish, 81, 122 Spelling, 42 Spencer, Midshipman, 7 Spotting, 156 Squadron practice, 80, 237, 240, 243 Staflf, academic, 83 Star, 105 Steam machinery, 7, 145-149, 261, 292, 307 Strength tests, 176, 184 Stribling, Commander C. K., 28 Sunday School, 161 Superintendent, list, 28, 82, 232, 237 Swedish system of exercise, 75, 178-185 Swimming: required, 73; contest, 78; extra instruction, 1 1 1 pool, 186; team, 210 ;

Tamanend

or Tecumseh, 123 Teeth, care of, 197 Tennis, 79, 223 Thompson, R. M., 200, 212, 217, 282-283 Tobacco, prohibited, 64, 115 Torpedo, 156 Track athletics, 211 Traveling expenses, 325 Tree, 112, 125 Trophy Hall, 291 Typhoid fever, 192

Index Unsatisfactory midshipmen, 112 Upshur, Commander G. P., 7, 28 Ushers, 79 Vaccination, 192 Vandalia, U. S. S., 6 Vera Cruz, 15, 70 Visitors,

Board

of, 16,

282, 300

Wainwright, Commander Richard, 28 Walking, 217 War College, 309

Ward, Lieutenant,

11, 12

Washington, President, i Washington, U. S. S., iv

Watch, routine

of,

Wisconsin, U. S.

251

243, 244, 257 Worcester, U. S. S., 63 Worden Field, 298 S.,

Wrestling, 208

Year, academic calendar, 131 Y. M. C. A., 161-162

359

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