Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-11

q Editor Of THE EVENING STAB:

70 the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
beg little space In your columns to make
aplaIn, fair and square statement of the present
status and future prospects, of the midshpman
OF the navy of the United States since the pas.
sage of the last naval appropriation bill, which
reduced the personei OF the navy
will first state what my observation has led
me to believe is the popular conception of a
midshipman. Sir Garnet Arab Smith is casu-
ally mentioned as belonging to the navy"
The nearer conceives a military looking chap
with double breasted, ss-buttoned, gold-laced
uniform, cooked hat and sword and inquiries his
rank, but when told that heis only midshipman
behold the grand transformation the imagina-
tionimmediately deducts foot from his height;
his coat tails cooked hat and lace disappear; his
brass buttons diminish in size; his fierce NOUS
tache yanishes from his weather-beaten cOun-
tenance. and he stands before YOU with his di-
minutve statue, short jacket, jaunty cap, and
rosy cheeks the midshipman of romance or
what is the same thing, the popular conception
OF a midshipman.
will now endeayOr to give an idea of what
the average midshipman really is; what his
deplorable prospects are, and how his treatment
compares with officers of the sane rank in the
army and navy. Being one of the unfortunates.
can do no better than copy the plain state
ment or my own case. in a letter to the New
York Herald September TO- 1882
may startle some of my readers by abruptly
Stating That, although midshipman am a
man. which statement | think is justifable In
consideration of an altitude of six feet above
the plane of the horizon. and nearly "a wears
OF age. In September, 1876 1 Commenced nv
course of studies at the naval academy. In 1880
j graduated and received my diploma. and after
two years at sea, returned to Annapolis for
final examination last June, and received an ap-
pointment as midshipman.
Ny promotion depends upon retirements,
designations and deaths. Taking into consid-
Grafton retlrements alone, will be promoted to
the next [rankl grade (ensign. the first commits
stoned rank, and corresponding to second
lieutenant in the army about 1902 allowing
nye years for casualties / will be promoted in
1897. at which time will have served the gov
eminent some tweDty-One years-siX years as a
cadet mdshipman and fifteen as a midshipman.
will then be lone of those dear little middes, y
at the tender age of thirty-eight summers.
having devoted the best years of my life and
usefulness to the navy. without the privilege of
commissioned rank without pay, without any
Incentive to ambition or desire to attain eff
cheney in my profession, since efficiency is not
rewarded in any way. without even being en-
titled to a salute from newlvenlisted lands
man. and without the assurance that promotion
will be again cut Off
When left the academy and reported for
duty on board q sea-gOing ship was assigned
the same duties and subjected to the same treat
IHellt as the captain OF the snip Wnen ne was a
mdShlpInan. and the admiral OF the fleet when
he was midshipman. They seem to have for
gotten that they were mddies at the tender age
OF from Is to ID years: they even seem to have
forgotten the three little brass buttons that
were sewed on their wristbands to keep them
rom wiping their noses on their sleeves; they
don't realize that the average midsfipman now
Is from % to % years DID, and well acquainted
with at least the theory of his profession; they
seem to have totally forgotten that there are
lieutenant commanders in the navy to-day who
reached their present rank before they were %
years of age, and who performed the duties of
that rank with its responsibilities. No matter
how old. experienced and proficient mdship-
man may be. you cannot convince one of our
venerable old ''three-deckerS'' that mdshjp-
man knows any more or is any more of a man.
than the MILDLY of his day. and any complaint
receives a reply which iard7-idbly begins with
When trtIs q midstipn0n-"When | was a
midshipman / kept my clothes i'm beef barrel
IN the fOrehold, and had to ask permission to
come on deck" etc.
Let me now contrast my status with that of oil
the corps of both army and navy. The gradu-
ate of West Point receives commission and
rank OF second lieutenant in four years after
entering the service; the cadet engineers who
entered the naval academy with my class grad
uated in four years. and, two years later re-
ceived commissions and rank of assistant en-
g1neers; the assistant paymasters and the
assistant surgeons enter the service with a
commission. rank of ensign and a six years
precedent; while tine cadet midshipman after
four years at the school and two wears at sea
Is allowed to call himself midshipman and re-
main wears without commission. and with
from S4OO to 500 less pay than any Of the
above corps.
i would like to ask anybody if they consider
that square deal" l would like to ask the
congressman who voted in favor Of this reduc-
tion.granting that the reduction is necessary
whether they think it is just to impose the
weight of the reduction on the shoulders of the
young officers, who will have to bear the pres
sure without rank and without pay; would
Ike to ask them If they realized at the time
that their yeas" crushed the professional am
Dition out Of every young officer of the navy
and VIII c0mpels them to pass the very best
years Of thefr lives and usefulness i'm compare
lively useless grade | would like to ask these
questions in all honesty and seriousness, since
IL Is my firm conviction that it is not nor ever
was the intention of Congressman to place us
In our present deplorable condition.
am only too conscious OF the fact that nv
statements on this subject will be valued ac-
eording to my rank Ii the opinion OF a rear
admiral were asked on this subject. feel sure it
would be to the effect that midshpmen are
better OIL than in their day; but with all defer
ence TO the rear admirafs opinion would again
call attention To the difference in age and eGu-
cation between the present mdShipman and
those OF his day. at the same time reminding
him that it has only been during the last few
years that the young officers have remained
more.than year or SO in the grade of mdship-
maps 1t Is surely 40 fault of the midshipman
that the naval academy was not throttled some
years ago.
"lf you don't like it why don't you resign ?"
Is q question often asked. and very easily
answered When young man has devoted all
ms energies for six years to learning a pro-
1esslon. and difficult at that it is not par
ticuiariy encouraging to realize that his time
and trouble have been in vain; for knowledge
OF seamanship, ordnance and gunnery naval
tactics navigation, etc, Is practically useless in
civil life; and. beyond a good mental training
the graduate Of Annapolis has nothing to recon-
mend him for civil employment and he must
therefore grin and bear it, or make up his mind
70 devote himself to learning new profession
A MIDSHIPaAN OF THE CLASS OF 80.
A0rsc Car Seats should be Divided
10 the Editor Of The EVENING SrAR.