New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-04
THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
CAPTAIN COOPER REPORTS ON ITS. CON
DITION AND NEEDS.

CAPTAIN COOPER REPORTS ON IFS. CON-
DITION AND NEEDS
HE RECOMMENDS CERTAIN CHANGES WHICH
WILL. INCREASE ITS EFFICIENCY. AND
ASKS CONGRESS FOR LIBERAL
APPROPRIATIONS.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNEI
Washington, Nov. 3.-Captain Philp H. o'ope''
Surerintendent of the Naval Academy, IN repol'
to Admiral Ramsey Chief Of The Bureau Oh Na'i-
CATION gives some interesting facts as 10 the Gun
dition and requirements OF the institution under
his command The number OF cadets now al tne
ocadonv is as follows: In the first class line d.
vision twenty-slx; first class, engineers divisoh'
twelve; second class, ffty-nine; third Glass; sN's'
fourth class eighty-nine. No vacancies nave re-
comfy occurred at the academy owing 10 uea'" Vi
dismissal but twenty-sx cadets have been per-
rnitted to resign account of failure IN STUDIES
The average age OF those VINO were droppeu io'
no, standing high in their classes IS eighteen years
and five months OF the twenty-six cadets dropped
nine had previously failed and were aaihl'eu ui'-
der a new permit Statistics are at manu- so'hs W
show that only a small percentage or cauets reiu-
nitted after having once failed succeed III ihee'"s
the requirements OF the academy captain Noopci
/ ra,ornmends that hereafter the Naval Academy
board no consulted as Is the practice at west
Point before rejected candidates are reaumi''eu.
In Nav last seventy-hve candidates present."
Themselves for examination OF wnch humper I'M
tvsIx we're found qualified physically ana meH'aiS'
In centember i2i candidates were examiner NJ!
,uo ma ssed the physical and mental tests VI the
last class which completed the six years COURSE
| ,,o,,v-ore cadets have been assigned to the line
o,sbt 70 the Engineer Corps and one to the Marine
CORPS. Nine were honorably discharged
| Captain Cooper adds that in the hrst hity years
~ rho existence OF the Naval Academy Just compiet
| we'd
ouno mon exclusive OF the various classes OF m'o-
shinmen sent there for periods OF lnsTuc.oii I'm
the general service in its earlier years ol the ''0
who have been admitted there were IN 'he sc, ~.
on July ] on the active list s'5 on the re''eu ~
III naval cadets 2i3, total OF l22'. Inc super
| i.1ar, EARNESTLY recommends that the act OF Au-
s+ 1870 he so far modified that the selection ior
various corps in the navy may be mace at INC Us
q. the four years course at the academy anu '"N'
tho surnlus graduates may be at that time hohoi
ahlv discharged instead OF at the emo o. inc sue
ceiling cruise of two years. He says that there
| aor,s n no no argument In favor OF the TWO years
800 800 ~ an educational sense and that there are
! ,orv reasons against 1t. The final examination
must necessarily be similar to that passeo d. 'ae
end OF the four years course. Inc VaiSi"s .o".'.
lions Of ship, station and surroundings are " .i'
/ draptoga NJ some and the disadvantage OF othei
cadets As a mea sure OF justice to those VINO DC
come surplus graduates they should De spaieu Wv
,uo vears, course at sea- which tends TO unht the"
for civil pursuits, Captain Cooper says anu w"
siderng the interests of the service the srauuale
Of the academy should have the stimulus Vi >'
,ss,or or warrant to -emove them as early a.
nc ssibe from a state OF proDatior' IL No"e'
.h,rLs - advisable to retain the six years course
the suggestion is made that the entire CLASS Oh
leaving the academy be placed on poaru 'he sa"'
shin and be subject to systematic training uhue'
uniform rule of discipline.
SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
It is recommended that the legal requ'rennen' =
age of admission to the academy De hSeo A' i'o"
fifteen to seventeen years. Further recoh'He"
tions made are that appointments shall be mau
one year in advance OF admission; that au''S'io
shall be only in May: that after cofnpie'e cru
NJ three wears all ensgns shall be sent back 10 IN
Naval Academy to pursue postgraduate coui .
~ one wear. at the expiration OF which compe'i
tive examination will determine their relative posi-
tons on the Navy list Captain cooper say
The routine OF studies and practical exercises ma
bee ne successfuily pursued throughout the year
The department Of English studies will be eniarsst
at she W Necessarily reduce slightly the tim
heretofore given to other studies bat 10 tar tha
the appliances practical training 9s the
are Insufficient and not equal 70 .ne y'a ~ th
Srnctice ship it has been forced the Nay
Department to assign to the ACADEMY storeship'
training ship for cadets the only merit PSs
Excellent. But being unhandy and unwieldy In
resut 10 that in many respects wrong principe
taught, and there Is little 70 De sa excaptIng tn
benefit OF taking the cadets INTO sea a,hoot an
Seamanship cannot be taught alone oy preeept; ar
II Is Impossible ID create lively Interest wisioa
nossessing suitable instruments. The Naval Acau
envy should have two vessels of moderate SIZE az
SO handy that practice under way can De ia
throughout the year These vessels should pe 20 =
about 800 displacement conposite DI, o.
rigged sailing vessels. with no steam appnahSs re-
board The quick Judgment. the readiness OF re
source and the unfalng nerve REQUIRE rn VI men
naval officers in the manasement OF S teschin
, of seamarship and that on board SAILING 'ess. as
The argument that seamanshp Is no ione1 49, nj 10
sary In these days OF steam and masuess ,amgbt 4
yricyous mistake but the art must De tausn. q, !.
Youth. II should be the foundation stone vi '"'S "
sutution.
. BETTER BOATS AND GUNS NEEDED
The report says that the smaller boats at tn
Z academy both steam and SAIL are ola ana near
worthless and should be replaced WIN ne" anu Dc
viceable boats. The pulling cutters nave sec" ss
vice s.nce war times having been used more tina
.,.o,,, Ave- wars The steam launches are chief'
converted sailing launches. Captain Cooper thinh
thar tho academy should OF cutters type {
light boats suitable to the age ana weight
cadets and OF steamers handy boats, UNIFORM
a size and speed. with the most 'nouerh type Vi e'
sines and boilers OF outdoor exercises ne says IN;
q OF late years the disposition has been TO resort
athletic field games, and that there IS Httle iIouy
ment ar announcement TO turn 10 the water +
recommends that various types OF saiHhS poats al
racing shells be given TO me vsnsI' w,tn ~
= be cultivated there being nowhere finer water pr.
: ileges than at Annapolis
ne advises that the gun battery should be esta
!. lished on a firm and permanent basis. In order tn
instruction OF cadets may not depend on the unce
being Withdrawn 10 meet the exigcncles or the sc
: vice. An appropriation Is urged LOT sum- n re-
number OF guns 81 ,ISm plant for
academy. Attention is called to the inadequate I